Shaun Vincent is exhibiting his new body of work, My Beach, in the Verena Holmes Gallery from Monday 3 March – Friday 25 April 2025. Here, he shares a glimpse of how the project came into being.

Making the work

I had been spending time at the beach, either walking my dog or simply alone, as a way to relax. Just listening to the sounds around me. The squawk of the seagulls became comforting and the rhythm of the waves calming. I learnt the literary word for the sound of the waves is susurration, derived from the Latin ‘susararre’ meaning to whisper. I found this fascinating as the beach did appear to talk to me, soon enchanting me back on a weekly basis. 

It was fine over the summer, but I needed a reason to visit regularly. What better way to make myself, than a long-term photography project. The weekly pilgrimage didn’t have to take long, typically no more than fifteen to twenty minutes. I would walk down with my camera and tripod, set up in the same spot (handily marked out by a manhole cover) and simply shoot a few frames of whatever was in front of me. Largely it was just the seascape but occasionally I would have accidental subjects within my view. This would typically spark conversation as the tripod made a statement. Nobody objected to being photographed and they all seemed to like the project. I suspect they shared a similar bond with the spot, enjoying their time there too. 

I began shooting the work on my trusty Hasselblad 500CM medium format film camera. This slowed me down, ensuring a measured approach necessary for the contemplative nature I wanted the project to have. After a couple of months of sending my precious films away to be processed I became concerned about the possibility of the loss of a film. Should this happen, the whole idea would be ruined. I then started shooting on digital alongside my film camera and ultimately stopped using the Hasselblad as the cost of film and processing was getting prohibitive. 

The final project is one I am very happy with. It captures the literal highs and lows of the tide, and the gamut of weather conditions, mirroring the ups and downs of life in the modern age. I hope the viewer can experience the calm feeling of the work and perhaps seek out time away in nature for their own mental benefit. 

My Beach – a film

About the exhibition

This particular beach is a short walk from our home and was photographed from the same spot every Sunday lunchtime for a year. For me, it is more than just a scenic escape, it is a place of tranquillity and reflection which allows me precious, specifically allocated, time away from the stresses of modern life. In a world increasingly defined by noise and urgency, the beach reminds me of something essential, the importance of pausing, breathing, and simply being.

This body of work is not just about the beach—it is about time, memory, and the stories a single place can tell. By observing the subtle and the grand, the transient and the enduring, these images ask us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of life’s ongoing rhythm. In the end, the beach becomes a canvas, not only for the forces of nature but also for our own contemplation of what it means to belong to something greater than ourselves.

Each photograph captures a specific moment—calm, turbulent, sunlit, or shrouded in mist—reflecting not only the physical changes of the beach but also the emotional resonance it holds. Time flows like the tides, ever-changing yet also constant. The changing light, patterns in the sand, the ebb and flow of the tide, and the occasional human presence all serve as metaphors for impermanence and renewal. This work is a testament to the power of natural spaces to nurture mental clarity, alleviate anxiety, and foster a sense of connection—both to ourselves and to something greater.

Gallery opening hours

Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm

Launch event

Friday 7 March, 4.30 – 6.30pm, Verena Holmes Gallery

Join us to celebrate the opening of this new photography exhibition by Shaun Vincent.

Tickets are free, but booking helps us to plan the event.