One of the oldest manmade harbours on the South Wales coastline, the Old Harbourin Pembrey was built in 1819 to handle the increasing traffic in coal from local mines, was finally abandoned in 1878 following the completion of Burry Port harbour less than half a mile away.

The Old Harbour is now listed as an Ancient Monument of National Importance by CADW and the restoration work carried out during the Millennium Coastal Park project has firmly secured the harbour’s western breakwater. The views overlooking the Burry estuary towards the Gower peninsula and across The Saltings nature reserve are breathtaking. I often make a point of stopping at this site during one of my bikes runs along the coastal path and I’m so pleased to have finally painted this unique scene on canvas.

A gathering storm building up into such a spectacular atmosphere presented another opportunity to capture the dramatic scene on canvas. With the focus on one of the historic lighthouses perched on the rocky peninsula of this tidal island, the turbulent waves present an ambience of mystical quality – the exact aura I set out to express in my painting.