The Story behind Coquet Island

I'm doing a series of blogs with a little bit of background information about some of the Harris Tweed "paintings" in my exhibition at the Bakehouse Gallery in Alnwick this summer.

Coquet Island is a small island just off the coast of Northumberland from the small town of Amble. It is less well known than the Farne Islands further up the coast, but it is an important nesting site for puffins and terns, especially Roseate terns. 

Roseate terns are now endangered and Coquet Island is the only island left in the UK where there is still a significant breeding population. Roseate Terns have distinctive long tail streamers, similar to the tails of swallows.

Coquet Island is uninhabited in winter, but RSPB wardens live on the island throughout the summer to protect the nesting birds. Landing on the island is prohibited for the general public, but local boating companies from Amble sail close up to the island in good weather throughout the summer, allowing visitors to get good views of the puffins and roseate terns.

This is an imagined composite scene based on elements taken from several photos, with a small fishing boat going out to sea and Roseate terns.
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"Coquet Island" has been professionally framed in a plain wooden frame with an opaque white finish. It measures 18.75 inches square (inc. frame) and costs £600. It is also available as a greetings card or a giclee print in 2 sizes (£25 & £75) from the Bakehouse Gallery or our online shop.