Hummersea is very close to my home on the North Yorkshire coast. At the foot of Boulby cliffs (amonst the highest cliffs in England), Hummersea is a pebble beach and its walls retain signs of its industrial past. Time and weather have carved its stones, and our propensity for anthropomorphism leads us to perceive faces, appropriately enough, in the rock face.

Boulby Cliff Top I. oil on linen, 30x90cm, 2cm deep (12″x36″). £425.

Faces on the cliffs
Memories of lovers lost
Looking out to sea.

Boulby Cliff Top II. oil on canvas, 50x100cm, 4.5cm deep. £725.

From further back, the faces disappear, and the headland is reminiscent of a giant whale. The whaling coast. At the beginning of the 19th century, many ships left this coast to catch whales. Now, fortunately, whales can still be seen near the coast, to be captured by cameras and not by harpoons.

Hummersea Beach Study.
mixed media on linen, 30x40cm (2cm deep). £175.

There is a steep path to the beach, ending in a metal ladder anchored to the cliff. There the rock face shows signs of its industrial past, with remnants of alum mines.

Hummersea Beach. mixed media on canvas. 40x100cm, depth 4.5cm. £675.

Farm on Boulby Cliff Top. ink & watercolour on paper, 12.5 x 17cm. £125.