Necessity of Flight
Two fulmars wheel over choppy waters, framed against the horizon by a line of sea cliffs, as rugged clouds skitter overhead in the wind. Necessity of Flight is my tribute to the most beautiful, graceful sea birds, who build their nests and raise their chicks in the cliffs all across Orkney. A relative of the albatross, fulmars have the most awe inspiring flying skill, and will skim with one wingtip just over the waves, effortlessly cutting through the air even on the stormiest of days. It is a true pleasure to sit on a cliff top, or the back of a boat and watch them fly.
Necessity of Flight also carries another message: that despite the dangers of the sea, so many living things still need to set out on it, whether a bird on the wing or a struggling refugee in a small overcrowded boat, seeking a safer life on foreign shores. I will be donating 10% of the proceeds from the sale of this print to help the efforts of the RNLI, a charity which means so much to the people of Orkney, and who will never leave anyone to fend for themselves at sea.
A commission originally, but one which strongly resonated with me. There and Back Again tells a timeless tale: of love, of adventure, of nature and the wilderness, but also of favourite haunts, as well as familiarity with a known landscape. I loved branching out and mixing different drawing techniques whilst I was designing this print; incorporating some more abstract and out of context motifs to create a flowing composition and tell a story.
The eagle-eyed amongst you might have spotted Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, but what else can you see?