Meet Zoie Moody | Cornish Coastal Artist

 

Zoie Moody, Cornish coastal artist, sitting in her art studio beside one of her original abstract seascape paintings.

Hello I'm Zoie.

I'm a coastal artist living in Cornwall, where I create original paintings inspired by the sea and the beautiful coastline around me.

My work is a mixture of abstract and semi-abstract art, often using layers of colour and texture, alongside more illustrative paintings that capture little moments of coastal life.

I'm not always trying to paint exactly what I see. Often, it's more about how being by the sea makes me feel. That sense of calm, freedom and connection is something I hope comes through in my artwork.

Abstract Cornish coastal painting by Zoie Moody, featuring textured turquoise and deep blue waves, white sea foam and a soft, pale sky.

I love experimenting with different materials, building up layers of colour and texture using acrylic paint, pastels, ink and collage.

I don't always know exactly where a painting is going when I start. I quite like that, actually. There's a little bit of serendipity involved, and sometimes the loveliest parts happen completely by accident.

Zoie Moody painting layers of turquoise and teal acrylic onto a textured canvas with a paintbrush, showing her abstract coastal art in progress.

A Bit Of Background

Portrait of Zoie Moody, Cornish coastal artist, smiling in her art studio in Cornwall, wearing a cosy knitted jumper.

I was born and raised in Manchester (not exactly known for its beaches!), but we came to Cornwall on family holidays when I was little, and I fell in love with the place.

Something about the Cornish coast stayed with me, and in my late twenties I finally made the move to North Cornwall.

Nearly thirty years later, with a husband, two children and a dog added to the mix, I'm still here. And I can't imagine calling anywhere else home.

Zoie Moody, Cornish coastal artist, sitting on a sandy beach with her dog, looking out across the sea in Cornwall.

After a long career as a teacher and a painful period of burnout and chronic stress, I found myself seeking solace in art. The sea naturally became my inspiration.

I noticed how much calmer I felt when I was near the water, and how spending time by the coast seemed to improve my wellbeing. The more time I spent by the sea, the more I wanted to paint what I was feeling.

This little circle of spending time by the sea, feeling better and finding inspiration to paint had a real healing effect on me.

Years later, I discovered the idea of the 'Blue Mind state', a calm, almost meditative feeling that can come from being in or near water. It helped me understand something I'd already experienced for myself.

You can read more about this in my Blue Mind connection page.

My studio is a converted shed at the bottom of my garden, a stone's throw from the beach. One of my greatest pleasures is painting in the studio with the door open, my dog snoozing at my feet, a mug of tea on the go and the ever-present sound of seagulls in the background.

Zoie Moody’s garden art studio in Cornwall, with black-framed glass doors, colourful coastal paintings visible inside and leafy plants growing outside.

So that's a little about me, and how I came to create the paintings I make today.

If any of my story has struck a chord with you, I'd love you to have a look at my artwork. Perhaps you'll find something that brings you a little joy, a sense of calm or a reminder of a favourite moment by the sea.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me.

With love,

Zoie x

Zoie Moody, Cornish coastal artist, smiling beside one of her original abstract paintings in turquoise, blue and warm orange tones.