With a fascination for the sea and the Jurassic Coast, it’s little surprise Purbeck artist Cathy Veale has had two of her paintings selected for a prestigious annual exhibition of marine art, but a preview of her work is available to view now at Durlston Country Park in Swanage, Dorset.
The Interaction of Light exhibition at Durlston Castle in the Fine Foundation Gallery, runs daily until Sunday 23rd August 2026 from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Cathy Veale with her vibrant watercolours on display at Durlston’s Fine Foundation Gallery
Recognised by peers
Cathy Veale who lives in Harman’s Cross near Swanage, says she is delighted her watercolours have been recognised by her peers, with two paintings, Old Harry Light and Dittisham, Devon, accepted for The Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition at Mall Galleries in London.
The Royal Society of Marine Artists was founded in 1939 and continues to promote marine art, encompassing not only sea-going vessels, but yachts and dinghies, the coast and seashore, harbours, estuaries and tidal rivers – indeed anything that is essentially marine related.
Old Harry Light is an original watercolour which will be exhibited at The Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition
Further along the coast, this scene at Dittisham, Devon will also be heading up to the London exhibition in September 2026
“One of my favourite venues”
Cathy said:
“I was very pleased to get both the paintings that I submitted to The Royal Society of Marine Artists accepted – thousands are submitted with only a few 100 accepted – so it is very good.
“But that show isn’t until September, so I have been able to display those paintings along with a wider selection of my art, here at Durlston.
“This must be the fourth or fifth solo show that I’ve done at the Fine Foundation Gallery, plus I’ve also exhibited here with others in the past.
“It’s one of my favourite venues, as it looks out over the sea. It also allows me to reach a whole new audience, as there’s lots of holidaymakers from all over, who are popping in to see the exhibition.
“There’s plenty of space too which means I can show off everything I have!”
The light in the gallery complements the light in the pictures
“Shapes, negative space, and textures”
Cathy’s paintings are very distinctive using bright blues to depict mesmerising seas. There is an ethereal quality to her seascapes, which creates the feeling that the viewer could actually touch the water.
Cathy added:
“It’s quite difficult to explain how I paint my pictures, but I start with building up washes of colour onto the paper.
“I never draw anything out first – I just paint with the brush and see how it evolves, looking for shapes, negative space, and textures.
“I think that’s why I enjoy painting the coastline around Old Harry so much, because the white of the cliffs really reflects in the sea, giving me plenty to work with. I really go for it!
Original watercolours, prints, and cards are available to buy
Down Under
However Cathy will have a new seascape to paint over the winter as she is heading to Western Australia to see her daughter.
She’s taking her brushes with her, so by Purbeck Art Weeks 2027, Cathy may have some new paintings of iconic coastlines from Down Under to display!
Further information
- Interaction of Light exhibition at the Fine Foundation Gallery, Durlston Country Park, runs daily until Sunday 23rd August 2026 from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm
- The Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition is at Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AS, from Wednesday 16th to Saturday 26th September 2026 from 10 am to 5 pm daily
- More about Cathy Veale and her work
