One of the key objectives of Samantha Frances Art’s coastal inspiration is to breathe an air of tranquility into your space by ‘bringing a little bit of the outdoors, indoors’. For those of us who have grown up or live near the coast, its healing properties are apparent; a simple walk along the shoreline is sometimes all you need to clear your head amongst the often dizzying chaos of modern everyday life. However, did you know that from the 17th century to the Victorian period, the sea was prescribed as a supposed ‘wonder drug’ for many illnesses, even those as severe as tuberculosis?
A Little Bit of History
In response to this, our minds may conjure up the Austenian image of a sickly woman relocating to the coast as a place of healing. However, Adee Braun recounts in detail the surprising history of the coast’s ‘healing power’ in her Atlantic article. Braun begins in the 16th century, a time when the middle-class view of the sea was overwhelmingly defined by pirate tales of ‘terrifying sea monsters dwelling in the dark waters’. A shift occurred when medical researchers began to recognise the sea’s ‘medicinal potential’. This developed into the prescription of ‘dunking’ patients in cold water as a way of stimulating the body and its humors. Interestingly, in the 18th century, this investment in the sea’s healing powers also brought about a revival of ancient Hippocratic methods such as the practice of actually drinking the sea water (infused with sweetener) to relieve stress.
The Coastline’s Benefits To Us Today
As we skip forward to modern day, while medicine has evolved beyond the arbitrary prescription of cold water to help serious illness, the coast’s rebalancing effect on our general wellbeing remains apparent. Dr Elliot Lewis carried out some research into why this is the case. Interestingly, he found that the people he surveyed who lived near the sea overwhelmingly categorised themselves as experiencing better general health and mental wellbeing in relation to the results of those living inland. This, he attributed to both increased physical activity as well as the sea’s distance from ‘busier, urban environments’, allowing ‘cognitive resources to be replenished’.
Additionally, for those of us who grew up close to the sea, Lewis reflected on the restorative impact of visiting the coast’s natural landscape as a place of comforting childhood memories and activities.
Conclusion - Samantha’s Objective
Therefore, having grown up by the southeast sea in a family of fishermen and women herself, Samantha's understanding of the coast as a place of restorative power to reignite child-like wonder is illustrated in the calming vibrancy of her wildlife paintings. Also, in using mixed media - whether that be watercolour or shimmering metallics, or using shells and feathers as tools - Samantha creates pieces for your home which initiate a tangible connection to this healing beauty of the British coastline.
Explore Samantha’s range of coastal wildlife art here.
Sources
Braun, Adee ‘The Historic Healing Power of the Beach’, <https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/the-historic-healing-power-of-the-beach/279175/>
Coast, ‘Get Your Vitamin Sea: Why Living on the Coast is Better for You’, <https://www.coastmagazine.co.uk/people/living-by-the-sea/get-your-vitamin-sea-why-living-coast-better-you/>
Written by Erin Churchman
Business Development and Marketing Assistant at Samantha Frances Art
Leave a comment