An evocative novel of love and art, and one man’s journey to find his place in the world. Where Light Meets Water is a moving debut traversing nineteenth-century London, Melbourne and New Zealand’s rugged South Island. 

London, 1847. Sailor Tom Rutherford has two passions: the sea and his painting. Sent to sea as a young boy after the loss of his father, Tom knows nothing but life on tall ships, and is determined to captain his own. 

On shore leave while his ship is being repaired, Tom is struck by the discovery of a delicate glove laced with the unmistakable scent of turpentine. The owner is Catherine Ogilvie – captivating, headstrong and a talented artist in her own right. While Tom’s work breathes life into the world around him through perfectly crafted detail, Catherine’s art is bold and vivid. Intrigued by this singular woman, Tom finds himself swept by chance into Catherine’s privileged yet stifling world, and his eyes are opened to creative possibility. 

As Tom and Catherine grow closer, Tom’s lifelong ambitions are upturned. But the sea calls to Tom, and he must face an impossible choice. 

In her stunning debut, Susan Paterson explores the power of art to transform a life, to connect us to others, and to nurture us through grief. Where Light Meets Water is a multi-stranded novel of love – of a man and a woman, of a sailor and the sea, and of an artist and his gift.