Though Nicholas St John Rosse paints a wide range of subject matter, most of his paintings are centered around the human figure and in recent years use beach settings, in particular at the water's edge. He likes to find ways in which the figure can relate to water and sand both in reality and pictorially. The visual fusion of water, sand and rock enveloping people fascinates him, and he tries to use these elements as an extension of the model's mood.