Despite their often vibrant colours, Shakespeare's painted worlds also exude a certain tranquility. As the title of the exhibition — 'sanctuary' — suggests, they collectively form a harmonious haven. Birds are also an important source of inspiration for Shakespeare, and the area around the Tamar Valley where he lives is, according to the artist, home to exceptional bird species. The painter is also fascinated by transitional areas, such as the edge of a forest or the place where the sea meets the coast. These are places marked by a contrast between the cultivated and the wild natural world. Shakespeare subsequently lets his imagination run free, while introducing elements of expressionism and a degree of abstraction, always in search of a hint of mystery or magic. This is also reflected in the traces of Cornwall's folklore and mythology that find their way onto his canvases.
Shakespeare's studio in Cornwall is situated in a seemingly timeless landscape: nestled in a valley between moors, with a view of ancient rock formations. In an interview with The Weekend Edition Australia, the artist said: "I’m very seduced by nature and it’s natural strength. You know, the things that will still be there if we do F up the planet one day!" However, it is not so much the large, impressive landscapes that move him most, but rather the smaller details, the flora and fauna that seem unaware of human interference. For instance, the pink in his paintings often reflects the so-called 'sea thrift,' a pink species of flower from the plumbaginaceae family that grows along the coastline of Cornwall.