Giles Ward grew up in Sheffield – a considerable distance from the sea – but annual family holidays to North Devon ignited a passion for the ocean and led him to move to the Devon coast as an adult to bring up his family.
Now based near Bristol, he is an artist whose work is influenced by the ocean and the compelling visual displays he sees in fish markets, and his beautifully wrought paintings showcase a diverse array of sea life.
‘I am in no doubt that my love of fish and sea creatures comes from poking around in rock pools as a young boy on holiday in North Devon,’ says Giles. ‘The excitement of finding a tiny hermit crab or some exotic-looking shell has never left me.’
His artist’s eye is drawn to the detail that’s only found in looking closely at the natural world: ‘Lift a rock in a rock pool and there’s a whole world to discover! It could be the tiniest shell or a frond of seaweed. When you look really closely, you start to see colours, shapes and patterns that you didn’t immediately realise were there. I like to take those as my inspiration and bring them to the fore in my work.’
For Giles, coast was a recent discovery, but he soon subscribed, delighted by a title that aligned with his own passions. ‘Bearing in mind the subject matter of my artwork, I was excited to find a publication championing the UK’s incredible shoreline,’ he says. ‘We are so lucky in this country to have such a diverse and wonderful coastline, which has inspired artists for hundreds of years – and continues to do so.’
Find out more about Giles and his art at giles-ward.com.
