Dreya Bennett: A residency of two halves

Pushing the limits of her medium, glass artist, former kite surf pro, and Watergate regular Dreya Bennett has been exploring new ways to work as she captures an essence of our shore, sea, and spirit in the first half of her residency.

“Not being in my usual surroundings, without my studio and tools around me, I’ve been pushed in new directions, embracing new working patterns,” says Dreya. Well-versed in how to capture the recognisable, tangible shapes and characters of the ocean, from crashing waves to shoals of mackerel, long-tentacled jellyfish to delicately curled seahorses, stepping out of the studio for her residency has given Dreya a chance to try a different approach. “A lot of my work is quite literal, but this residency has given me the opportunity to work more abstractly,” she explains.

“Getting outside and sketching again was wonderful because it’s not something I normally do in my practice. At Watergate, I was studying the rocks and the surface of the water for shapes and patterns. It made me look a lot deeper.”

Breaking her week-long residency into two parts, this first stage taking place in mid-September, Dreya was drawn to lively Watergate spaces where people come to gather, eat, drink and relax before heading out-of-doors to take in the ever-shifting shoreline. “I love the feel of the place here. It’s got such a relaxed essence that sweeps over you; I’m hoping to get a little bit of that captured in my work.”

Artist in Residency 6-9 November 2024

“I loved the changes in light and shadows; it was great to sit outside and create.”

Pencil, watercolors and sketchbook in hand. Stuffing her pockets with feathers, seaweed and shells, Dreya put herself to work, gathering all the raw materials and in-the-moment observations needed to inspire and inform the next stage of her work back in the studio. “My hands were going a little bit numb as I was out there sketching. I loved the changes in light and shadows; it was great to sit outside and create.”

Pencil, watercolours and sketchbook in hand. Stuffing her pockets with feathers, seaweed and shells, Dreya put herself to work, gathering all the raw materials and in-the-moment observations needed to inspire and inform the next stage of her work back in the studio. “My hands were going a little bit numb as I was out there sketching. I loved the changes in light and shadows; it was great to sit outside and create.”

Teeming with life, each one its own contained world, Dreya was drawn to Watergate’s rockpools, “From anemones to mussels, I’ve been thinking about creating an abstract work based on rock pool life. I’ve been working on capturing the bubbles on water and the texture of the rocks.”

Drinking in the Watergate essence, Dreya was reminded of how important this spot is to her, having played a key part in the hotel’s past, “I got married here, I helped set up the Big Air Kite School here,” (which is now where you’ll find Wavehunters), “I've had world records start from here, and I've gotten lots and lots of scars here.”

“They’d been there 20 years before, the same day I set off on my kitesurfing crossing to Ireland.”

“Being back in the hotel was brilliant,” she beams, “While I was there I met a couple celebrating the wife’s 60th birthday. They remembered me as they’d been there 20 years before for her 40th birthday, the same day I set off on my kitesurfing crossing to Ireland.” Dreya recalls, “I was buzzing after that encounter and I had many more little ones just like that throughout the day.”

To help give guests an idea of her glass works, Dreya bought in some pieces that were displayed behind her as she got to work. “In the afternoon, the sun came through the window and hit them in the most beautiful way, changing them totally. That’s something that I try to achieve; that constant shift with the weather and light to create something that feels alive.”

When she wasn’t getting creative out of doors or meeting people in the Living space, Dreya found some sanctuary in her Beach Loft, “You couldn't take your eyes off the view. We sat down on the sofa with a drink just watching the kiters and the light. Not having to go home in the evening meant that I didn’t need to disconnect. I didn't have to step back into reality just yet.”

Dreya’s now headed back to her studio, where she’ll spend a month ruminating, testing, experimenting and creating with her glass kilns and materials. “At the moment, it’s all about playing with what I’ve got. I took some casts of the feathers on the beach and I've been making some glass versions of them. They’re delicate and very pretty. I love the texture.”

We’re waiting on tenterhooks to see what emerges from Dreya’s process. She’ll be revisiting the hotel during the second stage of her residency on the 6-9 November, where you can say hello and take a look at what she’s working on.

Discover more

Watergate Bay heritage: Dreya Bennett

Carving out world records from our north coast shores, racing a polo pony while lashed to the wind and putting the flag in the sand with Big Air, one of the first UK kite schools, Dreya Bennett is a big part of Watergate’s story and has been for over 28 years.