Ian Daniell
FATHOM

“I make the work to highlight the fragility of our ocean ecosystems, and the urgent need for both protection and ingenuity in their conservation.”

Ian Daniell presents FATHOM, a compelling new body of work that renders ocean subjects with a rare combination of precision and sensitivity. Many of these paintings were conceived while the artist was diving in the first fifteen fathoms of the Indian Ocean along the West Australian coastline—the very same ocean that stretches before the gallery in Cottesloe.

Within FATHOM, aesthetic beauty and environmental awareness exist in delicate balance. Daniell’s works remain highly resolved, balancing scientific observation with painterly freedom. Working at a striking 1:1 scale, his paintings captivate through their size with remarkable accuracy and clarity. His high gloss finishes are expressive, highlighting vivid contrasts that amplify the sense of immersion. In his new coral form series, Daniell has become more fluid with his mark making, exploring rich texture and introducing an expanded palette of bold luminous colours.

More than visual studies, these works are acts of contemplation, drawing us toward a deeper impulse: a sustained effort to observe, understand, and ultimately protect the natural world—to fathom both the visible and invisible forces shaping our oceans, and our relationship to them.