Capturing a crashing wave with real energy and vitality is one of the hardest challenges as a painter. Standing on the shoreline at Bracklesham looking towards the Isle of Wight, I hope you can feel the sea spray catching your face too.

This stretch of beach does something to me. All my worries fade away when I'm here, and I find myself constantly mesmerised by the way waves build and crash. There's a rhythm to it that's both calming and exhilarating at the same time. In this painting,

I wanted to capture that exact moment when the wave is drawing in just before it crashes—that split second of power and movement. The tones here feel right for Bracklesham at high tide, the way light catches the water.

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out.