‘THE BAY’ is an exploration of the area in which I grew up, the Hirael area of Bangor, an area shaped by the sea and slate. The smell of the sea (and mud during hot summers) was strong and a reminder of our proximity to the deep. At high tide, large parts of Hirael are below sea level and under threat of flooding. A range of emotional and cultural reference points have guided the work. Recollections of looking out to sea and the horizon feature prominently in this body of work. I have attempted to create atmospheres which reflect my feelings for what was and is now gone.