emma jeffryes of time & tide
As I approach a landmark birthday, and with my mother passing away recently, I have been thinking a lot about time and life. This has manifested itself in a period of reflection and a desire to move forwards and make the most of all areas of my life, especially in my work as an artist. This, I hope, has resulted in a collection with a little extra exuberance.
I have always been fascinated by the tide, and it has been foremost in much of my subject matter over the years. The tide represents such a steadying certainty, with its unwavering rise and fall. That resonates greatly with me. In this collection I have found comfort in returning to familiar territory, in particular the shapes and forms of our harbour town of St. Ives, which remains a constant source of inspiration.
Last summer I had the opportunity of a Residency at Porthmeor Studio No 3, courtesy of fellow artist Naomi Frears. The studio is a beautiful and expansive space steeped in the history of all the great artists who have been there before. Through the magnificent window
that overlooks the beach, I became mesmerised by the constant activity of beachgoers and the continual change of tide and weather. I was inspired to capture it all quickly on paper, with simple fluid marks, as little sketches in paint. It was enormously freeing. A couple of paintings in this collection are based on those sketches and no doubt more will come.
I have also continued to work from observations made along the coast path: one new focus is Little Petherick Creek, near Padstow, at very low tide, with its patterned
mud and rich carpet of samphire, through which the tidal waters meander.
Together, these paintings represent my ongoing connection with all aspects of the Cornish coast, alongside my interest in the beauty and simplicity of floral still life, as I continue to explore the endless potential of colour and composition.
Emma Jeffryes, 2026
