During January and early February I was preparing paintings to send to the Wren Gallery for their stand at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park London (on 13-16 March).

Susan Isaac – Footbridge over Staithes Beck

My compositions focussed on the harbours of Staithes in the north east and Polperro in the south west. I was struck once again by the similarity between these two locations, with their land contours cascading down to the water’s edge, tethered fishing vessels and vernacular building forms. But at the point where I was choosing my palette of colours I became more aware of the contrasts in colours, textures and light.

The exposed soft red sandstone of the Staithes Nab, which dominates the harbour, is echoed in the terracotta pantiles and bricks of the cottages of the town.

Susan Isaac – The Old Pier from The Warren, Polperro

In Polperro the silvery mauve of the underlying rock, when formed into cottage walls reveals its glinting nature; and the ochre lichen clinging to the soft blue greys of the slate roof tiles seems to capture and reflect back a bit of the sun even on the greyest of days.