A local artist has been transforming the landscape of Pembrokeshire locations with his breath-taking stone arrangements along the coast.

Land artist Jon Foreman calls his project ‘Sculpt the World’ and says that he finds his work a kind of therapy,

“We all enjoy walk along the beach, but this process I find to be immersive; being there in nature, losing myself in my work, having left behind all the stresses of every day life.” (Mymodernmet.com)

The stone arrangements vary from swirling patterns to large colourful circles, and have been spotted in many locations across Pembrokeshire such as Druidston, Newgale Sands and Freshwater West.

Jon is from Pembrokeshire and began his journey making land/art sculptures during college, although he believes the process started long before this. Having grown up surrounded by the beautiful setting of the Pembrokeshire coastline, he appreciated his surroundings and made use of the coastline and woodlands by collaborating with nature itself.

Jon doesn’t just work with stones on Pembrokeshire beaches. He has also created work with leaves and driftwood, even using debris such as broken glass or ashes to create artwork inland, in derelict environments. The scale of his work also varies dramatically. He may create something minimal with stones or driftwood, and at other times he could be drawing massive sand drawings up to 50 metres across. Jon’s work is often affected by the climate being blown or washed away by the tide and sometimes human interference can change or delete his work. He finds this part of the creative process and says it adds to the therapeutic aspect of his work.

John spends on average, up to 4 hours creating his work, with no solid plan in place, simply an idea to work with. He finds this gives him more freedom to develop his ideas and the chance to develop new elements to his work. Working so closely with the landscape and over long periods of time, Jon has also noticed the way the materials he works with can change and adapt. For example, when rocks are grouped together, despite their solidarity, they became more ‘malleable’,

“There are so many ways of working with stone: the colour, the size, the shape, the angle it is placed, the direction it faces, endless possibilities. Although stone isn’t my only material of choice, it is currently my favourite as it presents so many different opportunities.”

Jon often waits to see the moment of impact when his work is washed away, seeing the beauty of the short lifespan of his work,

“I create using material that is made from the environment for that environment. The tide washes it all back to the tide line, and I come back the next day with an empty canvas to work with. People often ask if it bothers me that the work has to disappear eventually…If anything the fact that it’s short lives makes it more special to me.”

See more of Jon’s work or buy prints here.