Emma Henke Studio

Once you have smelled freedom - the true freedom of the ocean - you can never forget it. The endless blues, the wheeling and keening of seabirds overhead, the roar of the water rushing past the hull – these things become part of your DNA, inescapable.

They whisper to you in the darkness of the night: the promise of just one more glorious day on the water and the sharp taste of the salt on your lips. the stinging light; the tests of resolve that mother nature delivers – sometimes the fear and occasionally the need to find a reserve of unknown courage.

It’s also on the ocean that you can experience such beauty. That rhythmic motion, constant stimulation for all your senses – it’s easy to commune with the extraordinary forces of nature and be left breathless by the power and the beauty.

It’s out there - on the water - that you discover who you really are…

I paint to share all of this.

The three paintings in the Autumn Show at the Lilford Gallery are of three completely different sailing emotions.

‘Ready for Tomorrow’ is of yachts ready to race the next day - this is actually a scene from Medemblik in Holland, but it could be anywhere.
The crews, from all over Europe, were in the bars and restaurants around this tiny, ancient fishing harbour. The boats were tied up neatly, decks cleared, everything tight and tied down, all prepared for the following day’s adventure - a race across the Ijsselmeer.

That excitement before a big day’s sailing is always palpable. Even the boats seem to strain invisibly at their moorings, like horses in a stall, eager to be let loose into the paddocks.

‘Caught by the Squall’ - is about being caught unawares. By day, you can almost always see squalls coming. They are small but feisty low pressure systems with serious gusts in - sometimes more than double the prevalent wind speed. They can really ruin an otherwise wonderful sailing day - they can tear sails, force your boat over on her ear, even break your mast or your boom.

There is often a fiercely slashing band of rain on the front edge of these violent little weather systems - when you’re sailing in tropical waters, this can bring a welcome wash to the decks and a refreshing change to the heat - this is only something you can enjoy if you have already shortened sail.

When the sun has just set and your eyes are getting used to the darkness, squalls are at their most dangerous because they can creep up on you when you don’t expect them.

Sometimes, you just need to steer to run before the wind because it’s too late to try to turn into the wind and do anything else. Sometimes, you just have to roll with whatever life has thrown at you and hope to goodness that nothing breaks…

Sailing on a Summer’s Evening. This is a little moment of sailing peace, of people enjoying a warm summer’s evening out on a little boat. Just the right amount of wind before the sun sets, and the opportunity to clear your head. This is about time with yourself and being present in the moment, with no distractions. Mobile phone turned off, a little time to remember what lights up your soul…

All these paintings are framed, ready to hang and available to view (and purchase)through the Lilford Gallery, 76 Castle Street, Canterbury CT1 2QD, from 22nd October to 5th November as part of their Autumn Show 2022.

I look forward to hearing what you think when you have seen them! Do please let me know :)