Kingsgate 1924

Here's a small watercolour, Kingsgate, by James McBey. Look how it’s made—such delicate washes of earthy colours like ochre and sienna, and a touch of cool grey-blue for the cliffs. I love imagining the artist standing right there, trying to capture the scene, and the feeling of the light. You can see the hand of the artist so clearly. The lines are quick, precise, almost like shorthand. The marks suggest the texture of the landscape, the rough edges of the cliffs, and the calm expanse of the sea. I bet it was windy! There's a sort of understated confidence in the application of paint – McBey isn't trying to overwork it. Instead, he lets the watercolour do its thing, allowing for a kind of spontaneity that feels really fresh. It’s as if you are there in that very moment with the artist, seeing the world through their eyes. That's what paintings can do. It is really more like a conversation across time.