Captain Kaimor and the Sea Piskies of the Lizard
Captain Kaimor and his crew are the characters of my Cornish Folk Collection, an ongoing series of paintings inspired by the old sea legends of the Lizard.
Down from Poldhu Cove, a small world unravels: a world of myths and legends, of bravery and sacrifice.
This stretch of coast has always had its stories. There is Tregeagle, the doomed spirit who, while labouring to escape the Devil, spilled his heavy sack of sand and formed the beach at Loe Bar. And there is Lutey, the fisherman and smuggler, who was eventually claimed by Morwenna the mermaid and carried past the jagged rocks into the depths of the sea below.
Inspired by these old sea legends, I imagined Captain Kaimor.
Captain Kaimor
I picture him at twilight, carrying his lantern across the beach and calling the local fishermen home, so that they too do not follow Lutey's fate.
Captain Kaimor is a Cornish sea piskie who lives among the jagged caves along the coast between Loe Bar and Mullion. I like to imagine that, unlike the mischievous piskies inland, the sea piskies watch over the bays, look after the fishermen and shape the moods of the sea around them.
He is an ancient fae creature, and he is no softy. He has a heart as vast as the Atlantic Ocean, and though he is small in stature, he is very strong. He wears a cap made of limpets and a jacket of dried kelp, and he rides the crest of the waves in a vessel made from two sea snail shells lashed side by side.
He calls himself the Guardian of Mount's Bay. What that truly means was yet to be discovered, for who knew a single sea piskie's duties could reach so far beyond what should ever be expected of him?
The Night I Heard Him
It is said that if you listen closely on stormy nights, you might hear Captain Kaimor's faint commands echoing off the cavern walls and all along the coast to Mullion.
I have heard him myself, on Polurrian beach, one stormy night in the middle of spring. The angry waves thrashed and crashed against the jagged cliff edges. There were small lights in the distance, and shouts and cries that sounded as though the sea itself was talking. The booming of the waves rippled up across the landscape and could be heard from the village. But down on the beach, close to the water, I could hear only the faint cries of Captain Kaimor to his crew, telling them to steer the boats away from the treacherous rocks of Loe Bar.
I do believe he lives somewhere in the caves and rock pools between Loe Bar and Mullion. I have yet to find his hiding places.
The Crew
Captain Kaimor does not work alone. Each member of his band of sea piskies has an important role in the team.
Ruan, the Tide Whisperer
Ruan goes out to speak to the ocean, calming it so that it does not thrash and smash the ships as they try to sail past.
Luma, the Eyes in the Sky
Luma is the lookout. She can often be seen flying on her seagull, calling out warnings of what is coming in. And if she spots you coming first, you will never see any of them at all.
Kerensa, the Whistle Bearer
Kerensa carries an ancient whistle that can call to every creature in the sea for ten miles around. Whenever danger comes, she stands at the edge of the cliff and blows her whistle to summon help from any sea creature able to answer. Her own companion is a beautiful orange octopus, who comes to her aid whenever she calls.
The Deep-Sea Swimmers
The deep-sea swimmers have a slight tinge of green to their skin and gills around their necks, so they can live on land and breathe beneath the waves. They have webbed hands and feet, and hair as wild as the sea: deep navy, white as sea foam, or purple as an urchin. Each carries a knife in a belt at the hip. When a ship becomes caught on the rocks or tangled in the deep seaweed, they dive beneath the water and cut it free. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew pull and tug the ship upright if it is leaning or stuck.
Still to Be Discovered
The crew is still growing, and so is the collection. There may be a rope weaver, who can call upon the sea grasses to twist themselves into rope when a ship is in distress. And there may be a light giver, too. I haven't painted either of them yet, but I can feel them waiting in the caves.
About the Paintings
The Captain Kaimor paintings are part of my Cornish Folk Collection. They are original works in acrylic on canvas, 50 × 70 cm. There are three deep-sea swimmers so far, with a fourth on the way.
If you'd like to meet the rest of the crew as they come to life, join Letters from the Studio, my monthly letter from the studio, using the sign-up box below.