Beside the seaside

Gallery Educator and lecturer Belle Smith explores how artists have captured the charm, drama and atmosphere of the seaside.

Drawing on the work of Dutch seascapists and 17th-century painters such as Claude, artists of the 19th and early 20th centuries continued to be inspired by the coast. They re-examined both the visual possibilities of light on moving water and the social life of seaside resorts emerging along the coasts of Britain and Europe.

Join Belle as she uncovers the stories behind the seaside settings of the collection’s paintings and the techniques used to evoke light, movement and mood, including Turner and Constable, as well as the coast of northern France through the eyes of such artists as Bonington, Boudin and Monet. Discover how the seaside, both idyllic and expressive, has inspired these artists over time.

Belle Smith is an art historian and educator who has worked in London museums and galleries for many years. She studied at Goldsmiths College and has an MA in the History of Art. She enjoys working with groups of all ages, from young children and teenagers to undergraduates and adults.