Artist Uses Sand and Stones to Create Land Art Masterpieces at His Local Beach

Land Art by Jon Foreman

A walk on the beach is one of life’s simple pleasures; but for land artist Jon Foreman, it’s a chance to get creative. The UK-based artist collects natural materials such as stones, pebbles, and shells and then artistically arranges them in mesmerizing swirling patterns. Once he’s finished, the sandy landscape is temporarily transformed. Each ephemeral installation will eventually disappear when it’s reclaimed by the earth or washed away by the tide.

Foreman grew up in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where he became fascinated by the beautiful coastline and woodlands. Today, he collaborates with nature itself by creating art on the beaches he’s known all his life. Foreman often arrives at his chosen location with an idea of what he wants to create, but his rock formations and sand drawings often take on a life of their own. The artist has told My Modern Met, “I quite like not knowing exactly how it will turn out until it's there in front of me.”

Using rocks in different sizes, shapes, and colors, Foreman can spend up to six hours carefully laying out patterns. From swirls and crescents to circles and squares, his work sprawls across the sand in captivating formations that often mimic existing motifs in nature. Some pieces look like the patterns found on shells, and others take on the wave-like patterns of sand ripples.

When he’s not using found objects, Foreman simply draws in the sand. He showcases his epic creations by photographing them from above, standing on a cliff that overlooks the shore. From patterned circular designs to geometric lines, each extraordinary sand drawing appears just like an alternative crop circle.

Check out Foreman’s latest land art below and find more from his Sculpt the World series on Instagram.

Wales-based land artist Jon Foreman creates mesmerizing rock art on the beaches of his home town.

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

He uses stones in different sizes and colors to create swirling patterns.

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

When he's not using rocks, he draws epic formations in the sand.

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

Each ephemeral piece will eventually be reclaimed by nature.

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Beach Art by Jon Foreman

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Land Art by Jon Foreman

Jon Foreman: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jon Foreman.

Related Articles:

Artist Decorates the Beach With Mesmerizing Arrangements of Rocks

Land Artist Surprises Beach Goers By Leaving Striking Stone Arrangements Along the Coast

Interview: Ephemeral Land Art by a Man Who Discovered His Creativity in Nature

Spectacular Works of Land Art Celebrate the Beauty of Nature

Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Staff Writer and Video Editor at My Modern Met. She earned a BA in Fashion and Textile Design at the University of Ulster in Belfast. Originally from Northern Ireland, she lived in Berlin for many years, where she fostered a career in the arts, dabbling in everything from illustration and animation to music and ceramics. She now calls Edinburgh home, where she continues to work as a writer, illustrator, and ceramicist. Her ceramics, often combined with hand-painted animation frames, capture playful scenes that celebrate freedom and movement, and blend her passion for art with storytelling. Her illustrations have been featured in The Berliner Magazine as well as other print magazines and a poetry book.
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