The Trigg Surf Series is a project I completed during lockdown in 2020.

It consists of four watercolour paintings that were painted overlooking the beach.

With an exposed beach break and point break, Trigg is well known as one of the most crowded and consistent surf spots of Perth, Western Australia. Last March, I visited the same park bench early at dawn and would paint the changing light.

Each artwork is available as a fine art print in the shop here.

The Story behind the Artwork

One morning last year my brother and I got up at the crack of dawn. We brought a flask of coffee and the hot beverage felt like treasure in our cold hands and we smiled with glee.

Toby went for a surf and I sat on the bench and watched the early light. The morning was dark and I looked directly West. Even though I had already sat in the same spot on other days, it was a whole new scene.

The light was pink on the horizon, hiding behind a strip of lilac clouds. The water had a sandy green near the shore, probably where the sand was being churned in the wave.

I saw there were hints of purple in the bushes and watched surfers walk across the beach leaving footprints behind them. As the sun rises in the East, I see the new morning light hit the white water and I am in awe.

I play Hawaiian music on my speaker and Wesley sits down to have a yarn. He talks about his electric guitar and how much he loves the Hawaiian sound.

I have an old idea that painting is very much an introverted exercise, and I laugh at myself because every time I come to the beach to paint there are always folks wanting to talk and connect.