Peace on Earth: meet the artist Andrea Hall
Our Christmas Gift Guide for Outdoor Swimmers features this gorgeous illustration by Yorkshire based artist Andrea Hall. She tells us more about her artwork that captures the peace and joy of wild swimming.
Andrea, your ‘Peace On Earth’ image – what were you hoping to capture in this illustration?
That there’s nothing more peaceful than just floating on the water, tuning out of the busy world and into the gurgling and bubbling sounds of the water. Not a care in the world.
My illustration is available to buy as a Christmas card on my website.
Tell us about your outdoor swimming and how it inspires your art.
I started my outdoor swimming journey in 2012 having been inspired by the London Olympics. Over the next few years I did lots of events and challenges before being lured by my surroundings in the water rather than pace or distance. I began to stop mid-swim to take it all in. Around this time I felt compelled to record what I had noticed during these moments in illustrations. It’s about the environment, nature, weather, light, sounds smells and the feeling of just being in that moment – grateful for the privilege. My work seems to resonate with many like minded swimmers, which is just the best feeling.
We love the look of your 2025 calendar, please tell us about it!
My outdoor swimming calendar is a kind of diary of my swim experiences, though I have to admit some of them are dreams and hopes for future adventures. Some of the pictures feature real people and places and they all feature my little swim buddy, Ducky – see if you can spot him.
What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
Decorations. I love to make my own garlands and table centre from foraging in the garden, and the church yard opposite my house. I’m also a sucker for a posh bauble, I have quite an assortment that I’ve collected over the years.
Our Christmas Gift Guide comes free with our November issue, or you can view it online here. Find out more about Andrea’s wild swimming prints and other artwork at andreahall.co.uk
Abigail Whyte
Abi writes swimming news stories and features for the Outdoor Swimmer website and manages the social media channels. She loves to swim, run, hike and SUP close to her home in Herefordshire. While she’s a keen wild swimmer, Abi is new to the world of open water events and recently completed her first open water mile. She has previously written for The Guardian, BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC History Magazine and Ernest Journal.
