East Head is the most beautiful beach on the South Coast, and this is the view that always draws me back—the spit reaching into the sea with the South Downs visible in the distance. It's where I start most of my walks along this coastline.

I painted this on a late summer day when there was just enough breeze to keep the clouds moving overhead. That combination of light wind and shifting sky creates a particular kind of energy—you can feel the pull to set off walking. The colours at that time of year have a clarity to them, and the weathered groynes lead you naturally into the scene.

Working in oil and mixed media lets me build up the texture in the wet sand and create those luminous passages in the sky where light breaks through. What I really wanted was to capture that moment when you look at the beach and think, "Come on then, let's walk"—that irresistible invitation the coast extends on days like this.