The Cove

Habitat, Artistry & Human Interaction

The Cove was commissioned by the Cove Discovery Project, a community-led initiative focused on the preservation and celebration of Churston Cove, a site of ecological richness just outside Brixham harbour, Devon. The cove is home to fragile marine habitats, including seals and protected seagrass meadows, and is the subject of a growing campaign for environmental protection and responsible stewardship.

Liza Jane made four separate site visits to Churston Cove, each forming a phase in her artistic engagement. These visits involved walking, foraging, sketching and mapping, with close attention to the textures, forms, and shifting dynamics of the coastal landscape.

Rather than using conventional materials, Liza Jane produced her own handmade paper, embedding it with the physical and metaphorical qualities of the site. Each page became a field for ink and wash gestures, layered over the handcrafted textures of paper formed in response to place.

The Artists' Book

The result is a one-of-a-kind artists' book, with each chapter corresponding to one of the four visits. The book weaves together digitally manipulated walking maps, marks and textures reflecting tidal movement, minimalist notations referencing the presence of seals, kelp, and seagrass, and an unfolding spatial rhythm that balances the digital trace of presence with slow, tactile interpretation—echoing the relationship between place and human interaction.

The final work was exhibited at Lupton House, Brixham, in a major event celebrating the Cove Discovery Project. The exhibition drew hundreds of visitors and featured talks, live music, and a champagne reception, framing the event as both a celebration and a call to action.