Artist Statement – Rust and Tether

Rust and Tether is an ongoing body of work exploring the overlooked materials of Scotland’s coastal harbours and beaches, with a particular focus on Fife.

The paintings draw from rusted chains, discarded rope, corroded metalwork and working maritime infrastructure—objects shaped by labour, weather and repetition. These materials act as quiet records of time, erosion and human presence, marking the intersection between industry and tide.

Rather than depicting wide seascapes, the work isolates fragments and surfaces, allowing texture, restraint and wear to carry the narrative. Frayed fibres, oxidised steel and salt-stained forms become abstracted portraits of place.

The practice is rooted in observation and locality, responding to the physical reality of working harbours and the beauty found in what is used, damaged and left behind.