Today was one of those days when you feel the sun never really rises at all. It was windy and dark and the little light that made it through the thick blanket of cloud appeared to be instantly absorbed by the chilly sea.

I tried to shelter from the wind behind a groyne but soon had to move into the open to avoid the sand fleas that kept hopping onto my pallet and the canvas. But despite this the experience of painting on the beach was as absorbing as ever and I relished my time there.