Longing for the Waters with Impatiens by Riga Forbes

This is a painting of a beautiful river in the Sussex landscape where I live, which is under threat due to pollution. The painting embodies my deepest love for this place that I have known and swum in for many, many years. It is a painting about cherishing and protecting our Rivers.

‘I paint landscapes which express my somatic, emotional experience of being within the natural world and responding to its power, fragility, and temporality. Essentially, my work is about being in relationship with nature. My painting process involves invention and memory as well as finding inspiration by sketching and taking photographs outdoors before I begin painting in the studio. I work in oils because I love the brilliance and transparency of colour in oil paint. I want my work to convey a passionate sense of connection with the natural world, as a sanctuary for the human spirit.’