Follow The Sun

In this painting, a young woman sunbathes in the shallow waters of Freshwater Beach, Sydney. The work is inspired by Julz Beresford’s breathtaking Hawksbury River landscapes, where thick oil paint conveys weight, depth, light, and shadow. Drawing on a similar approach, Edward blends gentle photorealism with expressive palette knife and brush marks to build dimension in the figure, partially submerged in the ocean’s foreground.

Her raised arms suggest a quiet sense of freedom, as though she is momentarily weightless between sky and sea. The gesture becomes a visual metaphor for emotional release, shaped by the sun’s warmth and the ocean’s gentle rhythm. Edward captures the tactile heat of a summer afternoon by allowing vibrant visible brushstrokes to remain, embracing the rawness of the process rather than smoothing or repainting it. In this context, Freshwater Beach—usually vibrant and full of life—takes on a meditative stillness. This calm allows the subject to come forward, with sunlight and turquoise water harmonising with her.

Model: Kathryn Dixon