Nereids of Now

Emma de Polnay’s Nereids series is inspired by the daily ritual of sea swimmers she observed while walking her dog along the coast. Though not a sea swimmer herself (at least not yet), Emma was struck by the quiet bravery and camaraderie of the women who gather to plunge into the cold water—peeling off layers with grit and emerging pink-cheeked and serene.

This series is a tribute to that “sea sisterhood”—a celebration of women surrendering to the vastness and elemental power of the sea, carving out moments of connection and calm amidst the chaos of everyday life.

The colour palette is drawn directly from the ever-shifting tones of sea and sky, while the rich, peaty hues of the swimmers’ wet hair are inspired by the local coastline. Emma also pays subtle homage to the iconic pale aqua green used in Brighton’s historic seaside architecture.

Nereids of Now is a  limited edition of 50, each artwork is printed on 330gsm Somerset Velvet paper with a hand-torn edge, and comes signed and numbered by the artist.

Every piece is individually hand-finished with acrylic inks and mediums. Available in two sizes.