I see the boys of summer, June 2024

This image is constructed from photographs taken in Spain in June, 2024. The scene reminded me of summers spent with friends on the Isle of Wight in the 90’s. The image depicts a happy, sunny scene, but contains elements of somber reflection. I’ve lost two friends in recent years, and this image is, to some extent, a celebration of their lives and a meditation on their passing.

The title is taken from a poem by Dylan Thomas that touches upon themes of nostalgia and the cyclical nature of life and death. Though this is by no means a literal interpretation of Thomas’s work, there are notions within the poem that resonated with me whilst producing the piece.

The image was selected for the 2025 Royal Academy of Art’s Summer Exhibition in London. Limited edition fine art prints are available to buy here.