Out on the River Teign

This painting is an original oil painting by artist Clare Jenkinson. It was inspired by the ever-changing light and movement of the River Teign in Teignmouth. Painted with rich texture and expressive brushwork, the piece captures the quiet drama of being out on the water — the bow of a boat cutting through shifting reflections, with land and sky dissolving into colour and motion.

Clare’s distinctive style is deeply rooted in close observation and an intuitive response to place. The River Teign, with its tidal rhythms and connection between land and sea, provides the perfect subject for her painterly approach. Layers of oil paint create depth and movement, echoing the reflective surface of the river and the sense of calm immersion that comes with time spent on the water in Teignmouth.

With a background in textiles and carpet design, Clare brings a strong understanding of structure, pattern and composition to her fine art practice. She completed her BA specialising in carpet design and began her career in Kidderminster, historically at the heart of the British carpet industry. This grounding in design continues to influence her work today, particularly in the way she builds surfaces and balances colour.

Alongside her design career, Clare is a committed fine artist with a lifelong love of drawing. She went on to study botanical illustration at Birmingham University and co-founded the Birmingham Society of Botanical Artists. The discipline of observational drawing underpins all her creative work, whether she is studying plants, shells, fungi or insects, or responding to the natural landscape through paint.

Working from life is central to Clare’s practice. Careful observation of natural forms informs her paintings, giving them both energy and authenticity. In Out on the River Teign, this translates into a strong sense of place — a painting that feels unmistakably connected to the River Teign and the South West landscape.

This original oil painting would suit collectors of contemporary landscape art, lovers of Teignmouth and Devon, or anyone looking for a meaningful artwork that reflects a connection to water, place and nature. It is a striking piece that brings the atmosphere of the River Teign into the home.