My name is Kurt Jackson and I'm an artist based in Cornwall - landscape and seascape. I paint the environment and the people that live and work in it and try to cover cultural issues, environmental issues, political ideals and the simple ideals of beauty...

I have followed the work of lots of different environmental campaigns and organisations and became involved with fundraising for Greenpeace through my work as the artist in residence at the annual Glastonbury festival. In the past I have auctioned my paintings through the event organiser Mike Eavis. Every exhibition I hold at private and public galleries all over the world raises the awareness of environmental campaigns and organisations.

As I live near the sea and have witnessed numerous dead dolphins on the beaches of Cornwall I have always had the desire to get involved in the issue. In the past I have painted the dead dolphins and at one time witnessed six washed up on a beach. Pair trawling for sea bass is a major factor in this problem and so when I was offered the chance to paint in situ on the MV Esperanza campaigning against pair trawling in the English Channel, I jumped at it.

I had vague ideas for the composition and subject and as I couldn't paint in the Rigid Inflatable Boats as they are too bouncy, I took up residence on 'Monkey Island' which is actually on the roof of the bridge. While I was there I painted a huge sea swell and was feeling a bit icky but it was a phenomenal seascape with shafts of light hitting the water.

I've also been able to get onboard an inflatable to sketch an action to stop two pairs of French trawlers from fishing.

The experience was extraordinary and I managed to do a few marks on paper. Although it was very wet out there it was totally worthwhile to produce images that can hopefully be used to raise awareness on this issue.

Kurt Jackson, Artist in residence