Sam Walshe was the founder of the 'Neo-Deco' style. The motifs in his paintings were derived from his concern for the environment, in particular the oceans and endangered species. He depicted the fringes of our world with his unique stylization and dramatic sense of colour. He regarded his paintings as his main form of communication and loved "the collusion between people and the environment".

Born in Liverpool, Walshe settled in Cornwall in the 1960's, becoming a founder member of the emerging surf scene. He was an intensely private and unpretentious artist, who allowed his work to reveal his life and mind.

His work has been exhibited at the Driftwood galleries in Falmouth, Truro and Padstow.

Sam Walshe died in July 2021.