Have you ever been seized by the urge to go to the sea?

We live on the water all the time but the harbours in inland waterways are tamed, collected, enclosed waters. There was drama when the harbour in Medemblik froze but otherwise it’s very calm.

We were not meant to drive anywhere that wasn’t for essential purposes, but one day, when we knew the wind was blowing hard, we drove across to the North Sea coast and walked down to the edge of the ocean.

The gusts were enough to make you take a step sideways and the sand streamed along the beach with the wind. The waves beat the shore with a fury that the chop on the Ijsselmeer could never match. It was - elemental.

Do you know this feeling? Freedom and awe, passion and a little danger…

‘Stormy Day in Egmond aan Zee 2’

Oil on 100% cotton canvas, stretched on a softwood stretcher. 40cm x 40cm x 3.5cm