Holly and Brad

As an emerging artist with a lifelong interest in art and photography I have realised my wish to display my artistic talents, which are creative and original. Drawing inspiration from the elements of earth, air, fire and water, my work reflects a passion for nature and the outdoors. I was born and raised by the sea, giving me a strong affinity with water, consequently the salt sea with all her crests and troughs, inland waters and wetlands often feature in my work. Seeking to capture the ever-changing moods, colour and texture of water is an endless challenge full of adventure.

Land, sea and cloudscapes; rush and water-lily; reflections, ripples, storms and tranquillity; morning mist hanging in the valley; a massive iceberg calving, freezing a moment in time. Wild places. A reflection of the photographer in a garden urn becomes an impressionist landscape. All this I bring to my work.

The title has a twofold significance. As an emerging artist, I find myself charting the unfamiliar and sometimes daunting waters of exhibitions, "meet the artist" events and interviews. The title also refers to my travels to remote coastal regions of Iceland, Newfoundland and Labrador, exploring photographic destinations.

Other evidence of these "unfamiliar waters" is visible in my work, for example, the world of orchids which I discovered one cold January day. Their stunning diversity of form and colour, their heady fragrances are a wondrous cure for January blues.

Thanks to Denis Crankshaw, without whose love and support none of this would have been possible; Jack Sauer for showing me the way; Nancy McMaster and Chelo Sebastian for their encouragement and for saying "you can do it!"