Earlier this month, I was proud to present We Are The Sea, a multidisciplinary exhibition marking World Ocean Day , and I’ve been deeply moved by the response it received, from conversations with visitors to the lovely coverage by ITV News.

The exhibition brought together my original works including paintings, sound, found objects, and interviews to explore our emotional and sensory connection to the sea, particularly through the voices of women. It was a project rooted in listening: to stories of swimming, grief, joy, motherhood, memory, and healing. So many of these stories held the sea as a place of refuge, identity, and transformation.

Hearing people reflect back their own experiences as they moved through the work was incredibly powerful. Some spoke about their childhoods by the coast, others about sea swimming during periods of loss or recovery. Many simply stood and listened to the sound of waves and women’s voices, in a moment of stillness.

The ITV News feature captured some of the spirit of the show, and I’m grateful for their interest in the project. If you didn’t make it in person, you can watch the piece here:

👉 Watch the ITV segment

Creating We Are The Sea has reinforced my belief in the power of storytelling and shared space, and in the importance of honouring both the emotional lives of women and the oceans we depend on.

Thank you to everyone who visited, shared their stories, and supported this work.

Laura