Meet artist in residence, Janavi Kramer

Diving in...

Diving played a pivotal role in me becoming an ocean artist and scientific illustrator. One day, when I was studying theatre at university, a friend suggested I try diving. I remember Googling it, and discovering a dive centre literally 10 minutes down the road. It was the middle of December, but I booked onto a diving course that weekend.

Back then, my nearest diveable open body of water was a very murky, cold lake next to Heathrow Airport – quite a contrast from what you see on David Attenborough documentaries! I cried the whole way home after that first dive because I was so cold. Luckily, I pushed past that initial trauma, and I started to travel and dive as much as I could.

I was recently asked to be an ambassador for the biggest scuba diving organisation in the world, PADI. I'm super proud to be able to represent them, because diving will always be my first love.

There's something so unique about the experience of going underwater. As soon as you dip below the surface, the rest of the world just cuts out and you’re fully present in that moment; listening to your breath and taking in the wonders of the underwater environment.

Protecting our oceans…

We've got an incredible array of marine biodiversity here in the UK, and it’s so important to me to showcase that through my work. I never knew that we had such beautiful underwater environments in this country until I started diving – I just didn’t think that there would be much to see, but I'm so glad I proved myself wrong.

You can be literally metres from the beach, and only two metres deep, and you're surrounded by kelp forests, cat sharks, nursehound sharks, squid and cuttlefish. It's stunning, and I think a lot of people in this country have no idea that it’s there. Whenever I've shown friends and family what I see diving, they're absolutely floored that it’s something we have access to here.

I’d love to help dispel the myth that rockpooling is a child's activity; it’s for all ages. Rockpooling encourages you to stop, be present and look more closely – opening up these incredible tiny worlds, like miniature aquariums – that are bustling with wildlife. There's so much to learn about our wildlife just from one rock pool, because it's all one self-contained ecosystem.

With so many people enjoying our coastline every year, it’s vital that we empower them with the knowledge of how to protect and minimise the impact on the species under our feet on the beach and in the sea.

Because of the shift in our climate, we're now starting to see some incredibly unusual species in the UK, like the rainbow nudibranch, which has been spotted in Cornish rockpools in the last couple of years. The colours of these kaleidoscopic sea slugs are often linked to what they eat, so if you see a bright pink one, it’s usually because it feeds on little pink plants called hydroids, and holds all of that colour in its body.

Warming seas also mean we've also started to get humpback whales here in Cornwall as their migratory path changes, which is such a sight to behold, but it’s really important to understand why we’re seeing them.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge advocate for sharks. I think there’s a lot of fear around sharks, and I just wish I could take people underwater with me and show them that they don’t pose an imminent threat – they’re actually so inspiring and vitally important; the guardians of the ocean.

The marine conservation mission behind Janavi’s artwork…

What we need in the wildlife conservation space is to get more people to care. I heard a scientist say that one of the greatest threats to our ocean is apathy – people being disengaged and uninterested. But on the flip side, I truly believe that meaningful impact begins with emotion. My hope is that when someone looks at my work, they feel a sense of wonder and connection.

The biggest mission driving my work is to inspire curiosity and make people want to become more actively involved in protecting their local wildlife. I want to help them understand the threats impacting the oceans and what action we can take as individuals to safeguard rapidly declining species.

The issues surrounding conservation can feel super heavy, often leading to emotional burnout or eco anxiety – but I try to use my work as an antidote to all that, and to offer hope.

Working with Watergate Bay…

I’m fortunate to have worked with charities and organisations across the world, but since moving to Cornwall, one of my biggest priorities is focusing on local marine wildlife, which is how I came into contact with Watergate Bay Hotel.

I’m very much aligned with their ethos, in terms of how important it is to look after our local environment and preserve the species that live there.

Watergate Bay is such an inspiring location with so many beautiful vantage points. There's something about that view that instantly sparks a sense of calm and creativity. It's the kind of place that naturally invites you to pause, observe and feel inspired by the ocean.

I did a watercolour workshop at the hotel for World Whale Day, where I taught a group of children about humpback whales, and we made illustrations. I love talking to young people in those sorts of settings, because they’re so open to learning, and willing to ask questions. Sometimes they’ll ask something you hadn't ever thought of before, which I love, as it means we both learn something. It’s humbling.

I'm hoping to paint a really big humpback whale when I'm at Watergate Bay, which I think will be a lovely way to engage people and get them asking questions about the wildlife we have here on our coast.

There are some brilliant rockpooling areas on the beach at Watergate. You could spot everything from goby fish and pipe fish to snakelock and strawberry anemones, prawns, shrimp, loads of different crabs…there’s so much to see!

A deep dive into Janavi's work

Follow Janavi on Instagram @belowandbeyondart

See more of her work on her website

Meet Janavi

Janavi will be working around the hotel and on the beach during her residency from 5-9 June 2026. “I'd love for people to come and say hello while I’m at Watergate Bay, ask questions, or share their own experiences and connections to the ocean,” she says.