Gnarly Harley on a rocky shore at sunset with a bird flying overhead.

BOTE Presents //
GNARLY HARLEY

Harley Van Hyning grew up with salt in his veins. Fishing, bodyboarding, and long days on the water weren’t hobbies — they were a way of life in Destin, Florida. The ocean was his playground and eventually became the center of everything he does.

Art hit him at home, via a mother schooled at the Brighton School of Art and the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Through her, he was introduced to the centuries-old Japanese practice of Gyotaku. What started as a simple idea for T-shirts quickly turned into an obsession.

“Screw the bloody T-shirts, do more of this!”

The process is meticulous and thoughtful, with the goal of capturing every fine detail that makes each life form unique. Harley never dreamed of making a living as an artist, yet when the dots connected, it felt perfectly natural.