Shorelines

Jean started working on the idea of shorelines as a liminal space a number of years ago, drawing and photographing spaces and beachcombing for found objects. Initially, she started documenting fishermen’s huts on a Fife shoreline. The huts were ramshackle and had many interesting marks made by wind and sea spray. She then recorded some of the fishermen talking about their lives and experiences and made a number of drawings, paintings and prints using detritus found along the shore.

The artist became interested in the gulls overhead and on a residency in Shetland was lucky enough to see flocks of Storm Petrels coming back to their nests after searching for food so much further out at sea than they have every had to before. This led to a number of drawings, e.g., Storm Dance and Ocean Drift (see the section below), which were made in response to how these fragile little creatures survive now that they have to search so much further out to sea for food than they have ever had to before.

Jean’s interest in beach-finds, the seashore, and the people who have connections to the seas and oceans still inspires her work.