Ray Ellis is credited with being an award winning artist who has exhibited throughout the US and in London, and as having contributed paintings to a number of books.

With over 150 full colour plates of the artist's paintings of the American coast from marshland to major built-up areas, and including many seascapes, this is a beautifully illustrated book. The accompanying text provides a history of the coast, both in geological and social terms with accounts of the early settlers as well as of today's residents.

The vast majority of the images a full page in size, and many of them cross the gutter providing an even larger image. The paintings include watercolours ans oils, and there are the occasional close-up details. The pictures are well captioned with size, date and a brief comment. ( )