Southampton Grain Terminal

Painted on location from Ocean Village on a very calm morning, looking across the still water towards Southampton's grain terminal while a vehicles carrier loads. The ship and terminal buildings behind her are reflected in the glassy surface, with a single swan drifting through the foreground adding a note of quiet life to an otherwise industrial scene.

Southampton's grain terminal sits on the eastern docks, directly opposite Ocean Village marina — a working port facility visible from the leisure waterfront. The juxtaposition is part of what makes Southampton interesting to paint: cruise ships, container vessels, ferries and yachts all operate within a few hundred metres of each other. On a still morning like this, before the wind picks up and breaks the reflections, the commercial docks take on an unexpected air softened by mist and mirror-flat water.