Sycamore Seed

A winged sycamore seed, weathered almost to transparency.

The outer surface has begun to fall away, revealing the fine network of veins beneath. What once carried the seed through the air now appears delicate and lace-like, yet its structure remains remarkably intact.

Painted in watercolour and ink, this botanical portrait was created through close observation of each line, fracture and subtle change in tone. Fine ink marks describe the intricate framework, while transparent washes of brown, tan and grey capture the softness of age and the light passing through its fragile form.

The seed is no longer in flight, but it still holds the memory of movement: of release, possibility and a journey shaped by forces beyond its control.

This painting is a study of transformation. Of the beauty revealed when the surface recedes, and the quiet strength held within what remains.

Created in the English Lake District, it is an invitation to look more closely at something small, fleeting and easily overlooked—and discover an entire architecture within it.