This painting is available as a limited edition print

I have produced several videos over the years though it occurred to me recently that I have never shot one about myself.

So, I thought for this video I would talk about my motivations for painting and why I do what I do. I also talk about how and why I painted a view from the beach in the Norfolk town of Cromer. Many thanks for watching and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

A bit about Cromer Pier

Painting of Cromer Pier Norfolk

What we see today was built in 1902 and is 450 feet (140 m) long. Over time, there have been bandstands and roller-skating rings added, as well as a lifeboat station. Currently, Cromer Pier is as popular as it’s ever been.

I don’t know why we British have such a love for these odd structures. Why do we need to wander out on them, only to wander back again? Is it a bit like going on a ship? Or is it the feeling of space? I have no idea, though every time I see a pier, I too want to walk out right to the end, have fish and chips, then cheerfully wander back again with an odd, but entirely false, sense of achievement.

My visit to Cromer Pier

On the day I visited Cromer pier, it was a warm afternoon and was teaming with families, their main pastime being crabbing. This entails small children lowering string into the water affixed with a stone and a bit of bacon, then jiggling it around the seabed for a bit, before carefully pulling it up to see what they’ve caught. If anything, its usually a pugnacious crab, clinging onto the end of the string, steadfastly refusing to give up its dinner.

This wee fellow will then be bucketed with the others. The game is to get as many crabs as possible, with an extra bonus for the largest crab. Once the game is over, all the crabs are tipped back into the sea. Pointless but fun.

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