Jacob’s ‘property’ Ladder

A vertically stacked cluster of coastal buildings in Falmouth, Cornwall, painted in muted greys, whites, and deep forest greens. Heavily textured with rough palette knife work, the composition feels unstable, with houses seemingly compressing and sliding down a steep hillside.

On the left, a dark, angled structure directly references Falmouth's historic Jacob's Ladder landmark steps. However, the 111 steps have been inverted and broken, rendered completely impassable. By turning a public pathway designed for local connection into a dead-end barrier, the painting highlights the modern reality of gentrification, where local communities are structurally blocked and priced out of their own community.