Cornish Solitude

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Private Collection

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This painting of my daughter in Cornwall was inspired by my love of the American artist Edward Hopper and his extraordinary ability to capture a sense of isolation without making it feel lonely.

For me, there is an important distinction between the two. Loneliness is the sadness of being alone; isolation can be the freedom and joy of being alone. Hopper’s paintings often capture that quiet space between the two, where a person seems completely absorbed in their own thoughts and surroundings.

I wanted to bring that feeling into this painting. Evie is alone, looking out towards the sea, but she isn’t lonely. There is a sense of calm, freedom and reflection in the moment. The vastness of the Cornish landscape and the sea surrounding her creates a feeling of space, while her stillness gives the painting an almost timeless quality.

It is as much a painting about being comfortable in your own company as it is about Cornwall, the sea, or the person within it.

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