Saefern: Limited Edition Fine Art Prints of the River Severn

Some mornings stay with you.

This one began as my drone rose into the crisp morning air, just as the first light spilled over the hills of the Cotswolds in the distance. Below, the River Severn lay wide and open at low tide, revealing immense mudflats and ever-shifting patterns. From above, the river transforms into an abstract masterpiece—sculpted shapes, glimmering silver light, and a scale impossible to grasp from the ground. What followed was a quiet, golden hour where the river’s raw power and tranquil calm came together perfectly.

The result? I captured four unique images now available as part of a limited edition collection of aerial fine art prints—each one a celebration of this extraordinary landscape and hidden history.

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A River Shaped by Tide

The River Severn is far from a gentle, steady stream. It’s a natural powerhouse, shaped by one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, with water rising and falling by up to 15 metres twice daily. This relentless tidal force sculpts the landscape, exposing vast mudflats and winding channels at low tide, revealing the river’s hidden textures and contours.

Seen from the air, these exposed 'sands' become nature’s own artwork—fluid, ever-changing, and raw. Amid the shifting silts lie sunken barges, relics of the river’s industrial past, weathered and half-buried, adding a haunting depth to the scene.

Adding to the Severn’s mystique is the Severn Bore—a rare tidal wave that races upstream, defying the river’s natural flow. Surfers chase its energy, photographers await its drama, and all are reminded of the river’s restless spirit.

These prints capture the Severn at low tide just after sunrise, a moment of stillness charged with anticipation—the calm before the tide surges back in. The river is always in motion, constantly reshaping the land and history alike.

Ghosts of the River: The Sunken Barges at Purton

Along the banks near Purton lies a remarkable—and haunting—reminder of the river’s history: a long line of sunken barges, deliberately beached to act as a makeshift tidal defense. Known locally as the Purton Hulks, these rusting vessels were scuttled in the mid-20th century to help protect the riverbank from erosion.

Their story is linked to a tragic chapter in Severn history. Just a few miles upstream, the Severn Railway Bridge was catastrophically damaged in 1960 when two barges collided with it during a foggy night. The accident caused part of the bridge to collapse into the river, ending its use permanently. Some of those barges—and others from that era—now rest silently beneath the water or partially exposed along the riverbank near Purton.

These hulks, weathered by tide and time, tell tales of commerce, disaster, and the relentless power of the Severn. From the air, their skeletal forms add a mysterious layer to the landscape—a reminder that this river has shaped and been shaped by human lives as much as natural forces.

The Spirit of Saefern

The River Severn carries more than water—it carries myth and legend. Among the most enduring is the legend of Saefern, also known as Sabrina, an ancient British princess whose tragic drowning bound her spirit forever to the river’s flow.

Hafren (Sabrina's Welsh name) was the daughter of Locrinus, a legendary king of Britain, and his lover Estrildis, a Germanic princess. After Locrinus was killed by his wife Gwendolen (who had been scorned), Gwendolen ordered that Hafren and her mother be drowned in the river. The river was then named Hafren ('Sabrina' in Latin) in her memory. 

Sabrina became a water spirit or goddess associated with the river, often depicted as a beautiful, tragic figure. According to myth, Saefern’s ghost watches over the waters, a guardian embodying both the river’s beauty and its unpredictable danger. The story, rich with mystery and melancholy, mirrors the Severn itself—serene one moment, wild and untamed the next. The Severn Bore has been seen as the movement of a river spirit or the wrath of the drowned, sometimes even imagined as Sabrina’s return or a sign of her sorrow or power.

Local traditions and poetry keep Saefern’s spirit alive, celebrating her as a symbol of nature’s unpredictable power. Standing by the river or viewing it from above at dawn, it’s easy to imagine her silent presence beneath the surface—a reminder that the Severn is far more than water and earth. It is a living myth, as deep and shifting as the tides themselves.

Limited Edition Aerial Prints – Crafted to Impress

Large Limited Fine Art Prints with a black frame option.

Each print in this limited edition River Severn collection is created with it's natural, historical and mythical elements in mind. Available in A3, A2, and A1 sizes, with optional framing, these are more than photographs—they’re fine art prints designed to showcase the power and beauty of the Severn.

Printed on professional Fuji C-Type Matt photographic paper, these prints offer a smooth, matte finish with rich tones and sharp details. This premium paper enhances the subtle light and textures captured in the aerial images, while ensuring excellent archival longevity.

The prints are produced using a traditional C-Type photographic process, known for vivid colors, strong contrast, and durability—meaning your artwork will stay vibrant for years to come.

Each print includes a 'Certificate of Authenticity', confirming its limited edition status and provenance. This certificate assures collectors of the print’s originality and exclusivity, adding both value and peace of mind.

With only five copies of each image available, these prints are true collector’s pieces. Framing options include a premium solid wood black frame and museum-quality glass to protect and showcase your artwork perfectly. These images deserve to be displayed large. Especially in A1 size, the scale reveals textures and details that smaller prints can’t capture, creating a striking focal point in any space.

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Thanks for reading and supporting small independent photographers. You can view my other collections of the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley & Wales' beauty spots at:

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