DUTCH painter Piet Mulder was so fascinated by the English landscape, he bought a studio in Marine Parade, Dovercourt.

It was a decision, in 1975, that saw a change in his style of paintings, which included a use of more colour and later experimenting with coloured crayons and photo collages.

Now, 12 years after his death, Piet’s son, Reinjan, has published a bilingual illustrated book on the 20 years he spent as an artist in Dovercourt.

Reinjan said: “The flat was situated high above the sea, on the cliffs, right next to the Cliff Hotel.

“From then on, he crossed the North Sea several times a year from Hook of Holland to Harwich to record the English coastal landscape, the beaches at Wrabness with their stilt houses, Constable Country around Dedham, the rugged tidal landscape out towards Walton, the lightships off the quay at Shotley, the old fish sheds near Felixstowe Ferry and of course, old Harwich."

The book, called The Sea is a Bore, is available from Harwich Old Books, in Market Street, Harwich and Townsends, in High Street, Manningtree, priced at £10.