Poppy Ackroyd shares new single "Notes on Water" as a collaboration with her late father Norman Ackroyd

The inspiration for "Notes on Water" comes from Norman's annual work trips, during which Poppy would accompany her father on expeditions to uninhabited islands, watching as he captured their wild beauty through his art. These journeys, often undertaken on small fishing boats, provided the foundation for this project, a reflection of their deep connection to the natural world.

Although Norman had previously worked on her album covers, Sketches, Pause, and Resolve, as well as contributing artwork for Hidden Orchestra - the project founded by Poppy’s partner Joe Acheson – "Notes on Water" stands apart as their first true artistic collaboration and also coincides his birthday.

"‘Notes on Water’ is our first collaboration, an effort to capture moments we have spent together traveling around the British Isles, both on land and at sea. Our journeys have taken us to Orkney and Cape Wrath, as well as more remote destinations like the Skellig Islands and the Outer Hebrides - the most memorable trips were to the Flannan Isles and North Rona - traversing both turbulent oceans and glassy seas," Poppy explains. "Although we worked in different mediums, we both expressed ourselves through a collection of black ink marks on paper. This project is a celebration of our love for nature and the landscape, for the sea and its birds, but most importantly, for each other."

In tribute to his legacy, proceeds from the release will go toward the Norman Ackroyd Foundation, which Poppy now oversees as a trustee. The foundation will continue to support printmaking and the arts. Reflecting on the project, Poppy concludes; "This is the best way I could say ‘I love you’, speaking his language, through our work, which is where we always met. He was so thrilled to do this piece. Even at 86, he was young at heart, still exploring new things. It’s a celebration of his passion, our shared experiences, and the unspoken bond we had through art and music."