About Me.
I paint the wind.
Using expressive palette knife strokes and contemporary marks, my aim is to capture not just how sailing looks, but how it feels. I translate the movement, energy and freedom of being on the water.
The Artist - Summer Jane
Based in North Devon, I’m a self-taught artist with a background in Biology and a lifelong connection to the sea. I began selling my paintings in 2021, and what started as a passion quickly grew into a full-time career.
My work is inspired by the movement, energy and freedom of sailing. Rather than simply depicting what I see, I’m interested in capturing how being on the water feels. I work primarily with a palette knife, building up expressive marks, texture and layers of colour to create paintings that feel energetic and alive.
Today, I work from my studio in North Devon, creating original paintings on canvas as well as working with recycled sails. My work is collected internationally and I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with brands and organisations within the sailing world, while continuing to develop my practice and explore new ways of bringing my artwork to life.
My connection to sailing.
I’ve always been fascinated by the visual language of sailing: the way sails catch the wind, the constant movement of the water and the relationship between light, colour and changing conditions. There is something incredibly dynamic about a sailboat in motion; even at a distance, you can almost feel the wind through the sails.
It’s this sense of movement and energy that draws me to sailing as a subject. I’m particularly interested in the sails themselves and how they work with the wind. Rather than simply painting a boat as it appears, I use expressive marks, colour and texture to capture the atmosphere and energy surrounding it.
For me, sailing represents movement, freedom and the pull of the open water. These are the feelings I want my paintings to evoke, whether the subject is a racing yacht cutting through the water or a single sail on the horizon.
Collaborations and recognition.
Over the years, my work has taken me beyond the canvas and into collaborations with some of the most recognisable names in sailing and the marine industry. I’ve created artwork for brands, events and organisations including MUSTO and Cowes Week and my work is also held in the private collection of HRH The Princess Royal. With an audience of over 200,000 followers across social media, my paintings have reached an international community of people who share a love of the sea, sailing and contemporary art.