Sketching at sea with Anna Boss
- Rebecca Naylor
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Overlooking the verdant woodland bordering the Avon Gorge, starkly different landscapes are taking form inside Anna Boss’ Bristol studio. We catch up with the painter on her latest series – a collection of coastal works inspired by a seabound summer in southern Cornwall.
Anna Boss working on a larger-scale work; paint brushes galore in the artist's Bristol studio
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I’m a landscape artist whose work grows out of direct experience of place. My paintings are often inspired by walks through the land or, more recently, time spent at sea. I aim to capture the atmosphere of a moment — the light, weather, movement, and emotional presence of being in a certain location. I love to explore how a landscape feels as much as how it looks.
Which places most inspire you?
I’m most inspired by landscapes that feel spacious and uninterrupted — places with depth, openness, and a strong sense of horizon. I tend to avoid built environments and am instead drawn to areas where weather and light play an active role in shaping the experience of being there. I’ve lived in Bristol for 25 years and the surrounding environment frequently inspires my practice. Before moving here, I was based in Brighton and so the South Downs played an important role in my early connection to landscape.
A selection of smaller work-in-progress seascapes; mixing up paint on a paper palette
What will you be showing at Affordable Art Fair Battersea?
I will be showing a series of paintings made in response to several weeks spent on a boat over the summer. This new work reflects the incessantly changing conditions at sea — from shifting light and weather to sudden swells and squalls, often changing from one hour to the next. There were moments when land was barely visible and the horizon felt unstable. I was also captivated by the shearwater birds, appearing briefly as they moved in and out of the waves.
Where are you in the process?
At the moment, I’m working slightly differently to my usual process. I would normally begin with smaller, sketch-like works, but the scale and intensity of being at sea pushed me to start on much larger canvases. I’m focusing on establishing the atmosphere first, with the intention of scaling down later, although I’m still immersed in these larger pieces for now.
Have you exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair before?
Yes, the first time was in 2014! I am yet to have been myself, I think I will this year. I love the accessibility of over 100 galleries showing under one roof. There should be something for everyone there.
Are you influenced by other artists’ work?
Most recently, Norman Ackroyd has had a real influence on my work. His etchings and watercolours of the Scottish islands and coastline — with their birds, cliffs, and open sea — capture a powerful sense of remoteness and atmosphere. There’s a quiet intensity to his work. I’m equally caught by the work of Emma Stibbons, particularly her large-scale works responding to melting ice and rising tides. Her focus on coastal environments and the visible impact of climate change brings a strong environmental awareness to the landscape, and her use of scale is both immersive and urgent.
Adding layers of paint to a stormy seascape; a trolley of tools accompany the artist at work
Have you visited any inspiring exhibitions recently?
I recently visited the Lowry Museum in Manchester, which I found particularly captivating. I’ve always been intrigued by Lowry’s figurative work, but I hadn’t realised how powerful his seascapes were. They’re evocative and quietly beautiful — peaceful and bleak at the same time with a sense of stillness.
If you could own one famous work of art, what would it be?
It would have to be The Dance by Paula Rego. She’s one of my all-time favourite artists, and that painting in particular holds so much narrative depth and darkness. After seeing her retrospective in London and the documentary about her life directed by her son, her approach to storytelling through painting has really stayed with me.
Sign up to our mailing list and be the first to hear about Anna Boss’ latest collection of seascapes ahead of the Affordable Art Fair Battersea, or contact us to enquire about available artworks.
Comments