Nina Brooke - St Ives

Painter Nina Brooke has gained an international reputation for her colourful representations of the beach and surf culture, all seen from an aerial perspective. Soaring high above the shores of the world’s most picturesque places, her scenes pop with vivid colour as she depicts the patterns of humans playing, surfing, exploring and resting alongside nature.

Nina travels abroad regularly to paint, but recent pandemic restrictions have provided her with an unexpected opportunity to tune into the topography of her home, and she has spent the last few months exploring Cornwall’s westerly tip, from St Ives all the way round Land’s End and up to the Lizard. Setting out by land, air and sea, Nina has tracked undulating footpaths and moored up on secret beaches, sketching as she goes and using a drone to capture breathtaking scenes from above. The result, alongside a nod to the current dream-like luxury of escapism, is an homage to the sea, and a reminder of the impact of mankind upon nature and the importance of protecting our environment.