Intertidal - 03.09.26-28.10.26
Date: 3rd September 2026 -Intertidal, a new public artwork developed for Plymouth, has launched across the city. Four approximately 25-year-old Ford Fiestas have been radically re-engineered as autonomous tidal instruments. Their engines and interiors have been replaced with reservoirs, pumps, sensors, filtration systems, batteries, software, and digital controls, enabling the water in each vehicle to rise and fall with the changing tide in Plymouth Sound.
The cars will travel between 28 coastal, civic and residential locations from 3 September to 19 October 2026. By bringing the rhythm of the sea into unexpected parts of the city, Intertidal considers how water continues through and beneath Plymouth’s geography, infrastructure, culture and imagination.
Find and follow the cars
The principal Intertidal and Tide Together project page provides the current location of each car, access to live dashcam views and information about forthcoming activities. As the vehicles move regularly, this is the most reliable place to follow their progress across Plymouth.
The project asks a deceptively simple question: where does the sea really stop?
How the cars work
Each vehicle uses location data and tidal information to calculate its appropriate water level. Pumps and valves transfer water between a concealed reservoir and the visible cabin, while sensors, filtration, battery backup and remote monitoring allow the installation to operate autonomously. When full, each vehicle contains approximately 900 litres of water.
A detailed Intertidal Technical Manual provides further information about the engineering, electronic and software systems developed for the work.
Tide Together
The appearance of the cars is accompanied by Tide Together, a citywide programme of conversations, workshops, family activities, creative writing, STEAM learning and community participation. The programme extends the curiosity generated by the artwork into different ways of exploring Plymouth’s relationship with the sea.
The evolving programme is documented in Plymouth Culture’s round-up of Tide Together activities. A series of informal Tide Cafés brings residents, artists and specialists together to exchange experiences, knowledge and questions about tides, marine environments and life in an Ocean City.
Collaboration and support
Intertidal was created by David Cotterrell as part of Sea for Yourself, a programme led by Plymouth Culture in partnership with Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and Plymouth City Council.
Programme development and delivery are supported by The Box, Real Ideas, the University of Plymouth, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Arts University Plymouth.
The project was realised through a wider collaboration involving artists, engineers, fabricators, programmers and marine specialists. Expertise and support were provided by TR2 at Theatre Royal Plymouth, the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Blackwater Marina, EVParts, Toby Savage Design and digital developer Ashley Hancock.
Sea for Yourself is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Arts Council England Place Partnership Fund.
