Mousehole

Description

If you’ve ever been asked to picture an image of a perfect seaside village its likely that you’d have imagined something similar to this image. With this coastal harbour painting the surprising thing about it is that is based on the real-life village of Mousehole.

Pronounced MOWZEL by the locals, its said to get its name from the diminutive opening at the ends of the harbour walls, which throw their protective arms around the fishing village in an almost symmetrical fashion. As shown here in this naïve landscape painting by British artist Kerry Shearer.

With the harbour taking centre stage there is evidence all over of the hustle and bustle of this quaint English coastal village. Its easy as you look at the painting to imagine walking along the harbour walls to get an ice-cream from one of the many boutique shops. Or even popping into the Ship Inn for a swift pint to quench your thirst.

As with all her artworks Kerry has excelled in capturing the essence of the place. No two buildings are the same and unlike in recent decades where large scale town developments have leant themselves to produce regimented straight-lined architecture, this painting clearly shows how over the centuries the buildings have risen cheek by jowl to nestle among their neighbours and into the meandering lanes down to the harbour front.

Her use of texture and colour is key to creating a painting which is inviting. Fine layers make you look then look again and each time you do you’ll notice some little quirk or detail that you previously missed.

It creates a jaunty atmosphere in her work. A style of carefree whimsy shows a deliberate disregard for the laws of physics as well as formality. Kerry’s work is unapologetic in bringing an image of joy and nostalgia to create paintings like this coastal harbour painting. Its one that is to be savoured and smiled upon.