Porthonstock Cornwall Clifftop Coastal Industrial Ruins Acrylic on Board 1968

Title: Porthonstock Cornwall Clifftop Coastal Industrial Ruins Acrylic on Board 1968
By Tony Herbert (1927-2024)
Medium: Acrylic on board
Size: 11.25 x 14 inches
Annotated Verso: “Porthonstock 68”
Condition: Good overall; light surface wear consistent with age, corners slightly rubbed but no major losses or damage
Provenance: From a large private collection of this artists work, Oxford, England

Description: A dramatic and atmospheric 1968 acrylic landscape by British artist Tony Herbert 1927 to 2024 depicting the rugged coastline at Porthonstock in Cornwall. The scene focuses on a cluster of clifftop buildings and derelict industrial structures possibly remnants of Cornwall’s historic tin mining economy which once dominated this area of the south west.

Painted with a bold hand the composition features sharp contrasts between the dark verticals of the ruined buildings and the rolling green headlands illuminated by warm coastal light. The sea is rendered with expressive brushstrokes in layered tones of teal and grey suggesting movement and reflection while a wide swathe of beach in the foreground adds depth and texture.

Porthonstock is a lesser known yet visually striking spot on the Cornish coast situated near Porthoustock and St Keverne on the Lizard Peninsula. Its former quarry workings and dramatic natural setting make it a compelling subject for artists. This early work by Tony Herbert captures both the grandeur and solitude of the site and is a rare example of his acrylic technique during the late 1960s.

Ideal for collectors interested in Cornish mining heritage mid century coastal painting or the early career works of Tony Herbert.