In 1995 while I was studying fine art at Brighton university I met fashion photographer John Hicks and Pilar Lucas, stylist.
We became friends and they took me to Dungeness where this photo was taken.
At the time I was making mobile wall hangings from metal found in an old quarry on the edge of Lewes, inland from Brighton.
John and Pilar were inspired by my creations and went on to make one or two themselves for their home. He taught me how to take good photographs my watercolour paintings… these were the days before scanners were so accessible.
They commissioned me to paint a backdrop inspired by one of Mark Rothko’s paintings for a fashion feature published in the Cosmopolitan magazine.
It was great fun to paint such a huge piece, I’d never worked so big before (other than making a few protest banners on old sheets.. but that’s another story. ) They also invited me to the shoot in London giving me a wonderful insight into a day in their industry.
In Dungeness we were hoping to visit the film director, Derek Jarman’s Garden at Prospect Cottage, but I think it was closed. I’d been intrigued by his creations for a while, having an interest in creating assemblages and sculpture from found objects.
The landscape of Dungeness beach was powerful. It was a misty day and the pebble beach stretched on as the tide was out. The nuclear power station glowed through the mist in the distance and there was a line of old fishing shacks made from corrugated iron sheet which had rusted into the most incredible colors from the saltwater. It was bleak in some ways and yet as warm and atmospheric as a film set in others.
In the photo John took of me I put together some found objects – ”beach treasure” and hung one of my pieces of wall mobile from it.
John and Pilar loved a simple life. Their favourite place to stay when they weren’t working was in a croft in the Hebrides, such a contrast to the consumerist world they worked for.
I’m deeply grateful for their friendship and all they brought to my life.