‘The Song of Pendour'

There is something about the wild, rugged coastline of Zennor Head that just stays with you. On my last visit, the wind was so fierce and loud it actually made me giggle as I watched my children dancing freely with the motions of the gale.

Legend says that Morveren, the mermaid, fell in love with a local singer named Matthew Trewhella. She would sit on the rocks of Pendour Cove just to hear his hymns drifting down from St Senara’s Church. One day, he followed her into the water, and they were never seen on land again.

Apparently, fishermen say you can still hear Matthew’s voice echoing over the waves. A high, sweet song means calm seas, but a low, deep moan warns of a coming storm. 

In this painting, I wanted to capture that raw energy and the ancient magic that still feels so alive on the Cornish coast, reflecting on the happiness of that day and the song of Morveren and Matthew echoing below in Pendour Cove.

View artwork in progress