INSPIRATION AND CONNECTION | A POSTCARD FROM THE SEA & THE MEETING OF TWO CURIOUS, CREATIVE & LIKE-MINDED SOULS
There comes a time in many of our lives when we finally get in touch with who we are. And I mean really get in touch. We recognise and acknowledge what excites our soul, raises our energy levels and brings to the fore an abundant sense of vitality.
Just a short while ago, en route to a Brand Shoot in South Devon, I tapped in to these emotions at the highest level. Not only was I on my way to photograph an extremely talented artist and inspiring creative, I was also driving towards a place which, without being home, feels very close to it. That day, with these things combined, I felt a touch of magic.
As a child I grew up spending many summers holidaying in the South Hams and along the extraordinarily beautiful stretch of British coastline which extends from Salcombe (or just over the estuary at Mill Bay to be precise) along to Bigbury beach. By day I would naively wonder at the turquoise waters of the Salcombe Estuary or play on the beautiful sands of Bantham beach. Come late afternoon, the pace would slow and the energy soften. Ravenous after a day in the sea air I would tuck into a bag of sandy chips in the beach cafe car park, or head back to the campsite to enjoy a family BBQ. Eventually I would simply lie and wonder at the starlit sky, free from the glare of street lights, before collapsing into bed.
I realise now that these moments, these memories and this environment were gradually embedding themselves deep into my tissue. Each time I revisit, these emotions are ignited and my soul does a gentle happy dance. These meaningful environments can, it turns out, continue to have a profound effect on us at many levels and for years into adulthood.
It was, it seems, therefore written in those very stars I gazed up at as a child that, later in life, having embarked on a second career working for myself, I stumble across Devon based artist, Ellie Verrecchia (via social media which does, it turns out, have it’s benefits). With Ellie based just inland from Bantham beach and having too ditched the corporate lifestyle in order to better to fuel her creativity, we connected immediately. And hence the beginning of a journey between two curious, creative and like-minded souls.
Needless to say it wasn’t long before we ended up working together and I feel extremely fortunate to have been involved with providing the creative direction for both Ellie's Brand Design and Brand Photography. I always say how much of a ripple effect it can be when two creatives cross paths, sharing both stories and inspirations, and this journey has been no different. Ellie’s talent, passion and dedication is truly awe inspiring.
After a wonderful morning spent photographing in Ellie’s studio and amidst conversations en route back from a few final shots at the beach, we dreamt and talked of possible future connections and projects. I truly hope that these come to fruition one day as my skin tingles just at the thought of it. Thank you for having me on board Ellie. It’s been a joy and I’m so excited for your next chapter.
“Working on the brand design process with Katie and the resulting study she has made of my brand has really helped distil my thinking. One surprising outcome of having someone skilled look at what I do from the outside in, is that this process is now actually feeding my work. I’ve found the clarity has informed my painting direction in the weeks and months following the project.”
A little more about Ellie
Ellie Verrecchia is a Contemporary Seascapes Artist with work exhibited at leading British art galleries in Devon and Cornwall, and held in private collections both in the UK and overseas.
Ellie grew up in the Georgian city of Bath. Having achieved a place to study BA Hons Fine Art at the University of Exeter, she went on to a 25-year career in product design for well-known brands in fashion and interiors.
Her paintings are inspired by the shoreline land forms, plants, skies and sea of the coast where she now lives and works. Painting in acrylic and oil, Ellie brings her experience in trend and colour to create stylish, tranquil seascapes in dreamy coastal colours.
How would you describe your painting style?
I paint expressive seascapes, using abstracted marks and a palette inspired by our wonderful British coast. We are lucky to have some of the most beautiful and quiet beaches in the world. My expression is one of pure joy and I hope that really comes through in my work.
I paint outside en plein air where I can. That makes my studies and observations quick, as I usually have an hour or less before the tide makes a major move, or the weather changes. I’m not aiming to recreate the view, like a photograph, so I’m not too interested in most of the tiny details, rather the movement of the sky, the line of the tide and the sweep of the sand. Sometimes I ‘collect’ colours, making swatch charts to record a moment in the day. My studio is not more than a couple of miles along a Devon lane to the beach. I bring back what I’ve made, along with beach finds to inform shapes and colours in my work. Sometimes I add to what I’ve started, sometimes start afresh without the challenges of sand and salt wind, or the spindrift wetting my work.
I’m aiming to enjoy my surroundings with the simplest of marks and an impeccable palette. I keep my tools and kit simple, so I can carry it to the beach in my backpack. I use seawater as my water source and gather pebbles to hold down my work. My paintings connect people to places that are special to me, and them too. Which I think is a lovely thing to share!
From who or where do you seek your inspiration?
I always find myself hyper-creative when I'm near the sea. I know now to always take materials on holiday wherever I go - needles and thread, glue and paper, paints and boards. I seek out beautiful wild and natural places, often quiet and ‘less travelled’. The South Devon coastline where I live has really changed very little since I was a child, protected by the National Trust, the South West Coast path and the South Devon AONB. Scilly is pretty much exactly the same as when I was little, so I ride my bike about and feel 11 years old again!
I’m particularly interested in exploring where land meets sea. Sometimes that is raw shoreline - sand, strand line of weed and sea. Sometimes it's coastal plants like dune marram grass or sea pinks, or the dried seed heads of wild flowers on the coast path. Often I explore the subtropical gardens that survive the elements here on the coast. Palms, pines, echiums and aeoniums, all brought into Britain by plant hunters centuries ago, connecting us to our explorer ancestors. These plants remind me of the significance of the harbours close to where I live, now mainly thought of as holiday destinations but back then really important gateways to the wider world beyond.
I try not to look too much at other artists' work. I don’t want to be influenced by other people's original ideas. But I am definitely still influenced by my past years of work in retail, trend and fashion.
As a fellow curious creative where or what does your mind often have you dreaming of?
I’m always experimenting and ideas can come from unlikely places. My framer gave me some silver leaf the other day to practice with. I'd probably never have thought to buy some, but I’m really looking forward to seeing where that leads me.
I try to tame millions of ideas by making lists and plans. I’ve achieved so much in a short space of time launching a website, making progress with my visual language and painting style, and building a following on Instagram. I’ve completed numerous commissions, an art residency on Scilly and been invited back to lead workshops as part of Creative Scilly Festival this May. I’m learning to balance the day-to-day challenges of running a small business alongside pursuing a passion. It's so wonderful to think of my paintings in people’s homes and collections, both in the UK and overseas.
I’m currently daydreaming about art residency opportunities on the Hebridean islands. I've never been to Scotland. I’d really like to explore more islands of Great Britain in my work.
Is all your creativity saved for your work or do you enjoy being creative in other areas?
I’d say being creative and having good ideas is a way of life! In leaving the corporate world a sense of freedom was really important to me. I like that my day is dictated by weather and tides. In fact running a creative business is really a case of creative thinking and solving problems every day. One of my favourite problems to tackle is the logistics of getting myself, my materials and paintings to and from islands and other remote coastal places!
I love connecting with people. I engage with my community on social, I write for my own and other businesses. I lead workshops teaching painting both at the beach and in the gardens.
I beach comb and I love cooking, yoga and walking. I rarely sit and do nothing, I want to make the most of my day!
See more from Ellie’s Brand Design and Brand Photography portfolios.
