My painting ‘Breathing Roots’ features our all important mangroves ecosystem.

Mangroves act as an interface between land and ocean, connecting terrestrial life with life in the deep ocean.
Above water, the canopy of the mangrove trees provide habitat for a diverse range of species, including birds, insects, mammals and reptiles.
Below the water the ‘Breathing Roots’ or pneumatophores provide not only a substrate for many species to attach and grow; like the barnacles I have featured in the painting, but also tunicates, sponges, corals, algae and bivalves. But they also provide a safe, sheltered habitat that acts as a nursery for many crab, prawn and fish species, including juvenile sharks.
Their roots also help stabilise the coastal environment, buffering wave and swell action and reducing effects of coastal erosion.

I could go on all day about their importance, but I’ll leave it to my painting to show the beauty in their structure and the beauty in this unique and diverse habitat.

This is an original watercolour painting on cold-pressed 300gsm watercolour paper. It is 420 x 545mm.