Living Freely

Words and images by Martha Hayes 

My degree was coming to an end and the thought of having to pack up my beach side student flat and move to a city for work was a decision I couldn’t comprehend. I had 2 months left of studying my fashion degree when I decided to buy a caravan off eBay and head west to be in the heart of UK surf culture. I moved here with no job or plans other than to grow my small business and teach surf lessons for extra cash. I manufacture all my swim pieces out of my small caravan on the north coast of Cornwall.

Being off grid gives me a sense of freedom as I am exposed to the elements and having a much simpler way of living. Not only do I feel a sense of clarity living surrounded by nature but I also have more time to go surfing. As much as living this way feels amazing, the winter gets a bit tough. January mornings, waking up in a freezing caravan, heading to surf and grabbing my wetsuit that's frozen solid can be testing but if the surfs pumping it's just a small price to pay. 

I have been addicted to surfing since the day I started in my second year of uni. Because of the pandemic my course was put online which was hard as the busy studio environment I thrived in was swapped for zoom classes at home. It felt impossible to study a creative degree whilst being stuck inside with no inspiration or human contact. I lived in a small studio in a student apartment block about 5 minutes from Bournemouth pier. I needed to find a way to escape and get out. I think feeling shut in during covid has instilled a fear of feeling claustrophobic and given me an even stronger desire to feel free and live a nomadic life.