Beach stories illustrate how days were spent in the sand and seaweed. Not one dock pool left unexplored, my family nervously watching little me as I make my way across slippy rocks to find anemones, limpets and crabs in shallow pools speckled with colour. Mum and Lauren expertly build rock towers as high as they can make them. Rounded, greyscale silhouettes utilising flat rocks found on beach, all except those grandad thought perfect for skimming. Auntie Kit paints while we explore, watercolour landscapes and patterns on found rocks beautifully capture our days in brush strokes. Kites and sandcastles fill my memories of younger visits, drafts made from driftwood, their sales crafted from found objects. My favourite beaches as a child we called “rubbish beaches”. As sad as it is now to see beaches I loved so much so badly littered, I used to get real joy from scavenging in the eclectic rubble, running back to my family to show off what I’d found. As I grew older I found a love for more sophisticated beach combing, shells and sea glass are so plenty on every beach. The annual cowry shell hunt has became less successful over the years as word spread across the island about the locations where they are most abundant. My mum, granny and I never do a beach visit without a bag to collect our findings, even when we forget we put up with sandy jacket pockets if it means no treasure is left behind. We lay out and admire each other’s collections when we get back home over a cuppa, jealous of whoever found dark blue sea glass or the most interesting piece of pottery. My happiest memories of Shetland exist on it’s beaches, seals shyly observe us from the water as we picnic, spotting their bobbing heads is never less exciting regardless of its regularity. We all feel so at home on the sand in front of the sea in each others company.

Sea stories tell the tales of times spend in/on the waters around the islands. Fishing trips on uncle Ewen’s boat are often the highlight of my visits, from a young age we were taught and tested on species of seabirds and their Shetland names. Watching intently as they hauled creels, ready to explore each ones treasures. Lobsters were a rare treat but crabs of different shapes and sizes were plenty, starfish if we were lucky were brief visitors on board before finding their way back home through the waves. I remember these trips so fondly, regardless of the chop or the chill. My memories on the water are filled with colour and life. In this section of my project, ideas and developments stem from images of boats, mackerel skin, buoys and various compositions and colours of fishing ropes and nets. I have always had a special relationship with the sea, I have been raised to respect and enjoy the water. I hope to continue to find such peace, fun and adventure in these environments, learning more about them every opportunity.