A few years ago, Erica stayed in Teignmouth with friends, at a holiday let that had a gorgeous well-established garden overlooking the sea. She spent long summer evenings on the balcony, watching the light sparkle on the water and the boats pass by. Over the course of her stay, she drew and painted the view many times in her sketchbook. Those drawings later became the reference for this painting.
 
Spending time observing and drawing the scene gave Erica a deeper connection to it than taking a photograph would ever have. The process helped embed not only the view in her memory, but also her state of being at the time; relaxed, lifted and generally pleased to be alive!