“The contrast between silent cliffs and restless water offer powerful pictorial dynamics for an artist, as do the changes of light and shade and the air full of circling birds. The cliffs are a frontier between us and the horizon – to the seabirds, they are a necessary foothold on which to nest; a vertical boundary to their wider world of waves and currents. It is memorable in all weathers and seasons and full of surprises.”
John wrote this for the opening of an exhibition about St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve on the East coast of Scotland. St Abbs was a favourite place of his, and features in many of his seabird paintings and drawings. Here are the pictures that feature in the video. Enjoy!



