Brass Point to Birling Gap and Belle Tout. Vertical Triptych

Print description

I depict in this print the breath-taking view of Haven Brown facing East, with Birling Gap and Belle Tout in the distance. Brass Point marks the third of the Seven Sisters, named for the seven hilltops shaping the cliffs. I’ve walked this route in all weathers, always marvelling at the magnificent landscape. Birling Gap, towards the end, features a charming National Trust vintage book shop. On the horizon, Belle Tout stands proudly before Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain at 530 feet.

Vertical triptych

This piece comprises three prints in standard sizes that conform to a vertical triptych.

A vertical triptych art piece is a composition consisting of three panels or sections arranged vertically. Each panel forms a part of a larger artistic whole, and when displayed together, they create a cohesive and interconnected visual narrative or image.

The term “triptych” originally referred to a set of three hinged panels, often used in altarpieces in European religious art.

In a vertical triptych, the three panels are arranged vertically, usually stacked on top of each other. This format allows me to explore a theme, tell a story, layered with a sense of continuity and flow from top to bottom.

Hanging scroll painting

The concept behind this art piece relates to my love of the vertical hanging scroll which is a form of traditional East Asian visual art, often used for paintings and calligraphy. It typically consists of a long, narrow piece of paper or silk that is vertically oriented and mounted with decorative silk or paper borders. The artwork is usually created on the central part of the scroll. The British Museum keeps extraordinary samples of this art.

The scroll is designed to be hung on a wall or displayed in a vertical orientation, with the image unrolled downward for viewing. It’s a distinctive format that allows for a continuous and dynamic presentation of the artwork, often conveying a sense of movement or narrative as the scroll is gradually unveiled.

These hanging scrolls are a common and traditional format in East Asian art, especially in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean artistic traditions. They are appreciated not only for the artwork they showcase but also for the overall aesthetic and harmony of the scroll as a complete presentation.

White Cliffs

With this design I revisit one of my favourite subjects in my practice. The iconic chalk cliffs along the southern coast of England, facing the English Channel. This stretch of cliffs is located between Seaford and Eastbourne in Sussex. The cliffs are composed mainly of pure white chalk and can reach heights of up to 350 feet (about 110 metres).

The chalk is made up of the microscopic skeletons of marine plankton that lived in the ancient seas that covered this area millions of years ago. Over time, these sediments were compressed and solidified into the chalk rock formations we see today.

Print details

I created this print from my original ink drawings to which I apply colour digitally. Printed on fine art paper using archival inks. From a limited edition of 100. I individually sign and number each triptych.