Seascapes and More with Alicia Tolhurst-Brown

You only have to glance upon Alicia Tolhurst-Brown’s work to see that the Brighton born artist has a real love for East Sussex. She sees the place as a canvas of beauty and is often spurred on by these local sights in her wonderful creations.

Alicia Tolhurst-Brown’s life sounds like an artist’s dream, living in pretty Peacehaven on a picturesque cliff edge Alicia tells CommunityAd the location is ideal not just for its aesthetic charm but also crucially for its “easy access to some of my favourite places, including Friston Forest, Seaford Beach, Lewes Town and all of the South Downs”.

With an exhibition looming in the luscious Lewes later in the year CommunityAd thought it wise to have a chat with the charming artist about her love of Lewes, the ever-giving inspiration of the sea, how she utilised the time that Lockdown gifted her and her process of creating these stunning seascapes.

Speaking of the lovely Lewes Alicia reminisces of how her “grandparents would often take me for walks along the river and around the Priory. My grandad was particularly fond of all the back streets, so I got to know them well too.  What I love now, some 30 years later, is that although Lewes has kept up with modern society with its abundance of unique shops, restaurants and culture, it has maintained its heritage and sense of historic memoirs”. Adding how her favourite time of the day in Lewes comes in the early AM “ I love walking through the high street whilst the traders set up and greet the early risers”. A coffee and a croissant are often a staple of this early morning jaunt Alicia confesses.

Looking at the sublime seascapes that decorate this article you’d be inclined to believe Alicia had been creating them for decades but despite having lived by sea all of her life it was only during the lockdown days of 2020 that her talents and the sea would unite as she tells CommunityAd.

I was predominately a landscape artist, I love painting forests and stormy skies, however Lockdown did open a new chapter.  The beach and undercliff were my local daily walk, I’m lucky to have always lived near the sea and was ever more grateful during lockdown. I had space to breathe at the bottom of my road and I never tire of the ever changing mood of the ocean. Painting water had always presented me with a challenge, but I decided over this period to really channel myself and hone my artistic skills. I’m now fanatically enthused and unable to put my brushes down. My two passions have finally come together.

Alicia utilises modern tech to create her vibrant paintings, taking a camera to first document the sight then studying it and turning it into one of the wonderful creations that you see here. We asked her about the process and she enlightened us that this method came about due to her former profession of being a photographer and as she jokes “Any excuse to be on the beach”.

“I was a professional photographer for many years, so I guess it’s only natural that I would use a camera. Despite the wonders of photo technology, for me the camera cannot capture what I see. I’ll sit on Seaford beach with a sketch book enjoying the last rays of summer warmth or walk along paddling at the first sign of spring, (whilst trying to convince myself the water is warmer than it is).  Then there are days of treacherous weather, the waves are crashing thunderously, you can hear and feel the sheer weight and ferocity of water descending on the shore.   The wind is whipping my hair in every direction, your clothes are sopping and all you can taste is salt. It’s exhilarating, you have no choice but to be in the moment and embrace the full spirit of the sea.  A simple click of a camera’s shutter button is never going to be enough for me.

( I should point out I use a very long lens, so I’m not about to be washed away) that said, if anyone knows Seaford if the rain doesn’t soak you the spray will.

Once dried off, I’ll rush into my studio and sketch some of that emotion onto the canvas. I barely use photos at this point, just memory. The waves never look as dramatic in a photo as they do in real life. Once I have a composition that I feel encapsulates my experience, ill then plough through dozens of photos, hoping to find something that vaguely matches. Why? Because part of me is a perfectionist possibly, because I need it to be believable, because in the chaos on the beach when my hair has flicked salt in my eye, there are details I’ll miss. I would say in conclusion its 10% photograph, 40% art and the remaining 50% is about being part of it all”.

As well as the Sea the landscapes and sights of the lovely Lewes still stir the creativity within Alicia, “I have painted the Castle on many Occasions, from the Paddock, from the Mount (Calvary), my favourite location though is Early morning from Swanborough Lakes. I also love painting the Priory, particularly in Autumn. The Priory is quite a challenge for me, I’ve yet to be completely satisfied with one of my compositions. My plan is to paint the river a bit more this year. The weather is warming up and I love the late summer evenings”.

Any plans you’d like to make our readers aware of at all?

When I’m not painting water, I’m often wild swimming and diving, particularly in some of Britain’s beautiful clear rivers and gorges. This year I’m taking an underwater camera with me and I hope to share with you some of our enchanting depths. These paintings will hopefully be part of my up and coming exhibitions this year.

I’m thrilled to be exhibiting at the Star Brewery for the first time this year. October 7-16th.

I’ll also be at The Crypt gallery in Seaford 1-7th July

So why not go and support a local artist and sea the stunning seascapes in the flesh later this year? Alicia leaves with a humble message of gratitude “thank you for your time, the fact you’re reading this and have got to the end means a lot to me”.

To see more of Alicia’s work find her on social media or head straight to her website aliciatolhurstbrown.co.uk

Written by Dave McKenna

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