As far back as Chris Hankey can remember, he has been fascinated by nature and weather; from watching wildlife, thunderstorms and Atlantic storms that roll in throughout the year, to observing the universe through his observatory, and drawing and painting the Landscape and seascapes. Having this constant interaction with nature has had a profound effect on his philosophical outlook. He views the emergence of consciousness as the universe becoming self aware and believes that there is a deeply profound connection between consciousness and nature. There is a creative energy to the way that the sea, earth, atmosphere and artist interact. It seems to him that there is the light of nature and also the light of consciousness through which we explore the world through a dynamic and creative relationship between our conscious selves and reality. He does not view the light of mind and the light of nature as separate creations but as natural phenomena emerging through the natural evolution of the universe and the laws of nature. So he paints the creative fluid interaction between light, sea, weather and mind. Our consciousness represents the Universe becoming self aware.