The Harbour Masters Office

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The Harbour Masters Office is an original oil painting by Nick Grove.

Painted en plein air by Suffolk painter Nick Grove.
This painting was made at dawn at Southwold Harbour in midsummer. I had travelled up the night before and stayed at the far end of the harbour, a place few people venture. At five in the morning, the coast was wrapped in cool sea mist. The air was cold and still, shared only with a handful of fishermen and a solitary dog walker.
I brewed a pot of coffee beside the van and began painting immediately, working directly from the harbour edge. There is something deeply restorative about starting so early—breathing in the sea air and responding instinctively to the atmosphere before the day asserts itself.
At Southwold, the sun rises directly from the sea. By seven o’clock it had lifted above the dunes, reaching the far end of the harbour where I was set up. The light changed rapidly, shifting from cool greys to warmer tones. Although instinct suggested adjusting the palette, I chose instead to stay faithful to the initial impression. Capturing change while remaining consistent is one of the central challenges of painting en plein air.
After around forty-five minutes, the painting reached a point where I felt it held together. Back in the studio, I might refine it subtly if needed, but framing and stepping back often reveals whether a painting truly works. I take reference photographs, though I rely on them sparingly, preferring to complete the work from memory and instinct. Before leaving, I stood for a long moment, absorbing the scene and committing it to memory.