Huers Warning

A flock of gulls feasts on a shoal of fish just below the surface. Invisible from land or sea, Cornish fishermen relied on this 'aerial reconnaissance' to tell them where to cast their nets.

A “huer” was a lookout who would watch for pilchard shoals arriving in the bay. When he saw one, he would raise a hue-and-cry (hence the name) of “Hevva, hevva!”, and guide the fishing boats to the right place. (c) St Ives Town Council Website.

Painted in acrylics on an 81 cm x 30 cm x 3 cm box canvas