​A solo transatlantic sailor gave up a lonely life on the high seas to create ocean-themed 3D art using thousands of tiny, synchronised lights.

Artist Anthony Rowe, 45, unveiled his latest piece Ocean of Light at the Kinetica Art Fair today and admitted the loneliness and isolation of the sea has inspired his work.

He said: “That feeling of being in the middle of nowhere in the ocean on a tiny cork, it’s an unbelievable feeling. Just something that’s floating on the surface of a large mass of water when it’s hundreds of miles to dry land and three miles down to the bottom.”

In his early 20s the sailor made several daring long-distance expeditions, including the perilous solo voyage from Britain to America.

He added: “And even when there’s no wind you’ve got this swell going across the ocean, these large waves which move slowly across the surface. It’s the feeling that’s inspired this latest piece.”

After giving up solo sailing Mr Rowe adopted a more sedentary career as a computer salesman. He later gave this up too, admitting he was no good at selling. However, it fostered an interest in electronics and computing which helped him create his sophisticated sensory artworks.

With his international art group, Squidsoup, Mr Rowe uses interactive light patterns – which respond to sound – to create flowing movement.

The former sailor now lives in the Cotswolds but admitted his brand of art raises a few eyebrows amongst the more “traditional” art community in Gloucestershire.

He said: “I’m slightly out of place out there, there’s not a lot of other digital art going on in the Cotswolds, there’s just a lot of traditional stuff.”

Ocean of Light is on display at the Kinetica Art Fair at the underground Ambika P3 gallery, near Regent’s Park in London, until Sunday.