The Helford River will be shown in several new lights with Ebb and Flow, an exhibition opening on a hill above the river at Kestle Barton in July.

In a process that has encompassed storms and seasickness, artist Mike McInnerney set out to paint the tidal waters and banks of the river and its seven creeks.

The artist’s interest in nature as a subject for work was prompted eight years ago by discovering Vanaprastha, a Hindu term for the third of four important life stages towards an ascetic life.

He said: "It is a word that literally means 'retiring into the forest' and as I was sixty-five it seemed appropriate."

Ebb & Flow will offer a series of new works on paper painted, primarily in gouache, on site over an average of three hours each. The artist has said of his method of working in this way: "The work develops abstract brush marks into factual descriptions and is a primary example of improvised making with a risk of failure."

Ebb and Flow will be at Kestle Barton, near Manaccan, from July 15 to September 3, with a public opening on Saturday July 15 from 2pm to 5pm, including an artist talk at 3pm.