The Isle of Wight can look like a gem on the sea, a distant silhouette anchoring the horizon. The light and clouds that move with speed across our south coast can be absolutely stunning sometimes—it's like a private light show. I often find myself stood watching the clouds move for ages down on the beach.

In this painting, I wanted to capture those striking rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds, creating beams that stream downward and reflect on the water's surface. The gentle purple tones in the foreground blend with the silvery blue of the sea, showing how the beach takes on the colours of the sky above.

There is something comforting and restoring about being at the beach. I wanted this piece to show that the views around West Wittering are always lifting and hopeful in their light. The changing weather creates such dramatic moments that are worth capturing.

The moving cloud and light was tricky to paint, but once an experience in landscape is experienced, it sits in your head forever. That's what I hope comes through in this painting—not just what the scene looked like, but how it felt to stand there in that moment of shifting light.