This original handmade tonal drawing was made by artist Kate Ive.

Holiday Home addresses the life-threatening, endangered plight of Hermit Crabs. In recent years, Hermit Crabs have been found washed up, without shells, on beaches as a result of having become homeless. As each Hermit Crab grows, it sheds its shell and must replace it with the next size up. Without a protective shell, their soft bodies are vulnerable to attack and injury. These crabs are struggling to find new shells to move into because of the declining health of the seas.

Coupled with people taking shells home as holiday mementos and for home décor the little hermit crabs are struggling. Real shells are also taken to create holiday shell souvenirs. All contribute to the declining availability of suitable Hermit Crab homes.

This original handmade tonal drawing shows a Hermit Crab that has been forced to move into a Sand Castle Souvenir. It is adorned with a mixed selection of real ocean shells, which he would have instinctively preferred as his home. This drawing was the first stage in creating a bronze sculpture on the same theme. The bronze sculpture of ‘Holiday Home’ can be found under the ‘Sculptures’ tab.

This drawing is currently available for sale. Please get in touch via the contact page to enquire about this piece or to discuss new commissions.