Golden Gorse

Golden Gorse, Croyde Bay is an original oil painting on canvas, inspired by one of my favourite stretches of the North Devon coastline. Perched above Croyde Bay, I painted this view after walking a familiar path where land and sea meet in endless conversation the cliffs brooding beneath a storm-washed sky, the Atlantic horizon soft and vast, and in the foreground, the wild, blazing bloom of yellow gorse.

I can never pass a gorse bush without pausing - drawn in by that unmistakable scent, like coconut suncream stirred through warm pineapple juice. It’s wild and unexpected, like summer teasing its arrival long before it’s due. These golden blooms - some of the first signs of the season turning, light up the landscape even on the greyest of days. Their colour sings against the moody skies, defiant and joyous, as if to say, “It’s coming. Hold on.” That moment, that message, was what I wanted to capture here.

Painted using rich, layered oils, this piece brings together my love for the untamed beauty of the British coastline, the changing skies over Croyde, and the riot of colour and texture that nature offers so freely. The golden gauze (or gorse), rendered in yellows, oranges, and flickers of red, bursts from the canvas like sunlight itself. Behind it, the moorland dips and folds toward the sea, with every stroke echoing the energy of a coastal storm rolling in, or out.

This painting is presented unframed on stretched canvas, giving you the choice to frame it or hang it as-is for a more modern, gallery-style feel. It is signed and ready to hang.

Whether you’re a lover of UK seascape art, a collector of original coastal oil paintings, or someone who’s walked these very cliffs in spring, I hope this painting brings you back to the place where the salt hangs in the air, and the gorse smells like holidays before they’ve even begun.

Dimensions: 100cm x 79cm x 2.5cm

Media: Oil, pastel on stretched canvas - unframed 

Framing Available
Prefer your piece framed and ready to hang?
I offer a curated framing service using high-quality, gallery-style frames to suit the artwork.
    •    Add framing from £50–£75, depending on size and style.
    •    Lead time: approx. 7–10 days.
Feel free to get in touch for framing options or a custom quote.

hello@jacswaggett.com