Me when I swum under the bridge (with moustache) – 60x60cm

Returning to the Derwent This image is both a projection and a prophecy—a reflection of what was and what will be. The moustachioed figure is me, larger than life, preparing to launch into the Derwent River, an expanse of water that has long been both my adversary and my accomplice. In 2017, I had set my sights on the English Channel, a swimmer’s Everest, and the Bridge to Bridge swim was meant to be a milestone on that journey. But the body has its own currents, and mine was pulled under by a shoulder injury before I ever reached the start line. The water moved on without me, as water always does. Now, when the bridge is finally completed, I shall return—not just as a swimmer, but as the first to complete the journey under the newly established bridge. This is not just an endurance challenge; it is a reclamation. Water and I have always had an understanding. It is both mirror and threshold, showing me who I am and daring me to become something more. It has tested me, taunted me, and, at times, betrayed me—but it has never left me. This projected self, absurd and resolute, stands as a promise: the swim will happen, and the Derwent will know my name.