On Wednesday, Cromer welcomed artist Laetitia Yhap for a conversation that felt less like a talk and more like an encounter, the kind that stays with you long after the chairs are stacked away. Known for her uncompromising, deeply observed paintings of the Hastings fishing community, Laetitia brought to Grey Seal Coffee the same clarity, humour and honesty that defines her work.
She guided us through the decades she spent embedded on the beach at Hastings: the early days when she was still earning trust; the rhythms of labour and weather; the cracked surfaces and accidental marks that became part of the story; and the human relationships that shaped the paintings as much as the boats, nets and tides. What emerged was a portrait not just of a community, but of an artist committed to looking closely, staying present, and working with whatever the day, or the sea, offered.
Her visit felt especially resonant here in Cromer, where coastal life is woven into the town’s identity. Many in the room recognised the humour, the grit, the waiting, the weather‑watching; the shared experience of living and working beside the North Sea. Laetitia’s reflections connected our own fishing heritage with hers, reminding us how coastal communities carry stories that are both local and universal.
We were also delighted to share her work Paul carrying Robin Huss with dog Saxon, currently displayed outdoors as part of The Bigger Picture. Seeing the piece in Cromer, then hearing the story behind it directly from Laetitia, created a rare and powerful loop between artwork, artist and place.
The evening ended with a book signing and informal conversation; generous, lively, and full of the kind of exchanges that make events like this matter. People left not just with signed books, but with a deeper sense of the labour, relationships and long looking that sit behind Laetitia’s remarkable practice.
A huge thank you to Laetitia for bringing her insight, humour and fierce attention to Cromer. It was a privilege to host her, and a reminder of how art rooted in real lives can speak across towns, coasts and communities.
