Next Door

The chalets in Riviere Towans have been a great source of inspiration. This painting explores what you see just before you get to the beach and the wonderful views of St Ives Bay. The chalets at Riviere Towans range from classic wooden huts from the 1920s to modern ‘grand designs’. I found myself being drawn to certain types of chalet, those with a story, that have been extended and modified slowly over the years with their exteriors coated with hardy render, from a time when this would have been the most practical option for this often harsh environment. The render, of a time, creating texture and detail, weathered over the years, I find fascinating.

Eating dinner one evening I looked at the empty take away pizza box and came up with the idea to create a 3D chalet artwork. The first attempt used that actual used pizza box and served as the sketch to inspire other pizza box pieces. This is one of those subsequent pieces.

The render is created using sand from Hayle beach, and the windows were created from foam board. Inside is a painting of the interior depicting a window looking out over the beach and sea. The shadows generated in the interior are real. From certain angles you cannot see the view through the chalet and from other angles you can, replicating the effect of walking by catching a glimpse of the sea through a chalet.

There is something a little ‘nosey’ about these works, like you are peering into a building you shouldn’t, observing the view someone else has.

This painting was exhibited at the Penwith Gallery in St Ives, Cornwall as part of my solo show ‘Chaletscape’ exhibition in 2023

Framed in a white presentation frame, ready to hang.