Covered Tellaro boat alleyway

Boats stored upside down in a fishing village in Liguria

I found this covered passageway in Tellaro fascinating - it's where fishermen used to haul their boats up in bad weather and store them upside down on those timber rafters you can see crossing the space.

The architectural puzzle of it drew me in: that sequence of arches receding into darkness, the massive stone quoins framing the entrance, and the way the cross-hatching could build up the deep shadows while keeping the sense of depth. Working in pen, I had to commit to each mark - there's no going back - which suits my style.

I love the way these utilitarian spaces in Ligurian fishing villages have such sculptural quality, worn by centuries of use. The contrast between the bright entrance and the receding darkness into shade is what I was really after here.