Hidden Beauty Limited Edition Prints

This work brings together two seemingly unrelated worlds: the microscopic beauty of a soft tissue sarcoma and the sea squirt Ecteinascidia turbinata. Delicate gold and white connections trace the hidden relationship between them, revealing an extraordinary story of scientific discovery.

In 1969, extracts from E. turbinata were found to possess remarkable anticancer activity, but the technology of the time could not identify the active compound. Two decades later, advances in analytical techniques enabled scientists to isolate ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743), now known as trabectedin. Researchers later discovered that this remarkable molecule is not produced by the sea squirt itself, but by a symbiotic bacterium living within it. Because the bacterium could not be cultured and the sea squirt yielded only minute quantities of the compound, trabectedin is now produced using a semi-synthetic process inspired by this natural molecule.

Today, trabectedin is used to treat certain advanced soft tissue sarcomas. By placing the tumour alongside the marine ecosystem that ultimately gave rise to its treatment, this painting reveals an unexpected connection, inviting us to find beauty in both the complexity of nature and the discoveries that continue to transform cancer care.

Hand signed, giclée print on 310 gsm Museum Heritage acid-free paper, meeting the highest museum quality archival standards. Images shown here are of the original artwork. Print images to follow. 

Sizes available are images printed on either A3 Plus (32.9 x 48.3cm) or A2 (42 x 59.4cm) with a small white border approx 1.5cm to allow for signing, edition number and mounting.

This is a limited edition with only 30 available.

Shipping is usually within 1 week and sent next day special delivery, tracked and signed for. The art is carefully packed in a solid cardboard tube and wrapped in acid-free paper.

COLLECTION - if you are local to Hitchin and would prefer to collect, please send me a direct message.

Care Advice

Please keep the print out of direct sunlight and frame under acrylic or glass protection (ideally UV protected) to avoid deterioration in pigments.

Please make sure your hands are clean and remove the print carefully from the packaging.