Ocean Art: From the Shore to the Deep

by Helen Scales

Overview

From a leading writer of the sea, an exquisitely illustrated deep dive into the beauty and meaning of art inspired by the life of the watery depths.
 
Artists have captured the marvels of ocean life throughout history. From fine art to scientific illustrations, these portrayals help us to appreciate and interpret the diversity of shapes, colors, and patterns of the remarkable organisms that inhabit the oceans of the world. In Ocean Art, marine biologist and writer Helen Scales takes readers on a tour of ocean art, looking for the most striking and meaningful depictions of sea creatures, from ancient times to modern and from the coast to the deepest abyss, reflecting on how these works influence our view of life beneath the waves. This richly illustrated celebration of the beauty and wonders of ocean life is also a call to cherish and protect the endangered living seas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781836390985
Publisher:	Reaktion Books, Limited
Publication date:	09/26/2025
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 8.19(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Helen Scales is a marine biologist, acclaimed author, and broadcaster who teaches at the University of Cambridge. Her books include What the Wild Sea Can Be.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 Coasts and Beaches
2 Shallows
3 Open Seas
4 The Abyss

Further Reading
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The oceanic world Scales has meticulously summoned in this exquisite book holds an extraordinary variety of species. Scales asks that we not only see this realm, but also listen to it, attuning ourselves to the memory of sound in water. For her, observation does not end on the page; rather, it evokes our capacity to enter salt water, that 'skin we are not in' which covers seven-tenths of the planet."

Ellen Gallagher

For lovers of the sea and of art, this book is a dream come true: a round-the-world, through-the-ages gallery tour in the company of one of the world's top experts on the lives of ocean creatures. Writing with both authority and affection, Scales makes canvasses, cave art, and sculpture literally come to life as she imbues the images with the animals' natural history—and the artists' viewpoints as well. This is a book to be savored and celebrated!

Sy Montgomery

"In her latest book, Scales intricately intertwines the wonders of marine life with the power of art. Her expert knowledge and vivid storytelling masterfully weave together the beauty of the ocean and the creativity it inspires, making this an essential read for anyone passionate about art, nature, and the mysteries of the sea."

Miranda Krestovnikoff

"In this brilliantly fun and expertly written book, Scales tells crucial human stories about the development of our relationship with the ocean. She takes us on a tour through some of the most compelling, rare, and diverse works of art that have been inspired by sea life, from ancient artifacts and found fossils to modern paintings and scientific illustrations. Marine biologists: this is the ideal book for your artsy side! Artists and historians: you'll find no more appealing way to learn more about all that grows, crawls, slithers, and swims in the ocean!"

Richard J. King