Trevone Bay: a poolside painting
For this year’s Your Beach. Found series, we’re inviting artists, photographers and creatives to find their beach — and share it in their own way. Sharon Bruster’s way starts at the water’s edge, sketchbook in hand, watching the light move across Trevone’s famous sea pool before a single mark is made.
Sharon has been making art full time for twelve years — a long career in the NHS behind her, the North Cornwall coast ahead. “I’m doing what I love in this amazing location,” she says. “Living here, being surrounded by all of this and being out in nature by the sea is absolutely my total inspiration — that’s why I make art.”
Images and video captured by Clare James
This week, Sharon joined us at Trevone as part of our Your Beach. Found takeover — paint, ink and canvas in hand, drawing inspiration from the beach she knows well: its rockpools, its tidal rhythms, its details most people walk straight past.
Capturing the coast
Sharon’s practice is rooted in the spaces between high and low tide — the meeting point of land and sea that runs as a constant thread through her work. “My art is about how I feel connected to this place and everything around me — that’s what makes me want to create something. I’m constantly trying to find new ways to express myself, whether that’s using paint or ink or drawing — it’s all about the exploration.”
At Trevone, it was Tinker Bunny’s Bathing Pool that drew her in. “The pool itself — it’s mystical. All these gorgeous pinky purpley seaweeds, they’re just sitting there minding their own business, letting the water ripple over them, and the way the light is catching on all their little ripples is absolutely beautiful. And then there’s the big vista beyond.”
It’s that movement between the minute and the expansive that defines Sharon’s eye. “I do like to look at the little details. The sense of freedom and relaxation and happiness that I get when I’m walking around on the beach or clambering over the rocks or peering into a rock pool — you can’t fail to be amazed by what you see. It’s that feeling of connectedness, and just happiness and relaxation that it gives me.”
Sharon created a series of four bespoke paintings for Your Beach. Found, all inspired by Trevone’s magical pool.
Watch Sharon’s process of creating these beautiful pieces by the sea:
Play Video
If Trevone has you inspired, Sharon has not one but three upcoming exhibitions here — PLTwenty8 shows running 26–31 May and 21–27 August, and a further exhibition in December, all in Trevone.
But the next chance to see her work is this weekend: Sharon is artist in residence at Lanjeth Water Gardens and Nursery, with a preview night on 17 April and the exhibition running 18–19 April. Well worth a visit.
Find Sharon’s work at @sharon_bruster_artist and sharonbrusterart.co.uk.
