Anything habitually described as being ‘on the rocks’ is not that good to be honest. Relationships, ships floundering at sea being the two most prolific examples. Rocks generally aren’t good when slipped into conversation, unless you’re referring to diamonds. Finding yourself ‘between a rock and a hard place’ for instance isn’t exactly cheery. But then of course there’s the ‘on the rocks’ that’s typically associated with happier times, and the introduction of ice cubes to a spirited drink as part of a celebration. And then humour and celebration is what contemporary landscape and figurative artist, Mike Jackson is projecting in his latest creative reveal, namely, ‘Love on the Rocks’. Tenuous link aside, Jackson’s study of rocks has little to do with despair and depression and zip all to do with geology you’ll be pleased to learn, but has everything to do about positive love. The rocks in the title are purely the setting and backdrop to Jackson’s otherwise romantically-fuelled illustrative study. One that acknowledges a couple seated on a bench overlooking a harbour, deep in conversation whilst they observe the world going by. Only at a pace visually descriptive of a sleepy coastal location. Pure, unadulterated Jackson flourishes here, all well-defined pastel colouration and the objectiveness of artistic license when it comes to perspective. yet always balanced, weighted and composed.