Chausey and Paris

A June of travelling, painting and eating pastries.

Jul 09, 2024

Last month I went with my husband to Chausey, a group of small islands and rocks off the Norman coast. The largest of the islands, Grande-Île, has a few dozen houses which are mostly inhabited in the summer. We took the ferry from Granville, and after just under an hour, we were greeted with landscapes that surpassed my wildest dreams.

On-location sketch of Chausey’s coastline

We walked along a coastal path bordered by hedgerows laden with wild roses, blackberries and honeysuckle. The sweet smell of the flowers combined with the sounds of sea birds completely enchanted me.

Around every corner there was a something new and incredible to see. It was extremely quaint with its handful of old stone cottages, its church and its lighthouse. You could walk around its perimeter in a couple of hours, but at the same time it felt vast, like a world within itself. I can’t find the words for it, so I’m going to show you some pictures.

Some quick sketches from the boat as we were leaving

I think I could spend a lifetime discovering that little island. I hope to visit again soon.

Earlier in June, I went to Paris to celebrate Slow Galerie’s 10th anniversary. I’ve been working with them since 2019 when, as a wee nipper of a graduate, I approached them about doing an Erasmus internship. I spent two months of that summer with them and later they asked me to sell prints of my illustrations there. They are lovely people and every time I’m back in Paris I make sure to say hi.

The team assembled in 2019! Lamia, third from the left, is the owner of the gallery and an absolute gem. Clémence, on the right, is a brilliant illustrator.

Anyway, for their 10 years, they organised a big exhibition which I took part in. The theme was ‘slowing down’, which took me back to my days in Falmouth wading around in rockpools. Here are the pieces I submitted: