Martin Ayers was born in England in 1950, arriving in Australia in 1990. He is a self taught artist based in Melbourne. His colourful subjects, which are painted in a naive impressionist style, include landscapes, city and harbour views. Martin's work is influenced by artists including Fred Yates, Sam Byrne,Pro Hart, Helen Bradley and LS Lowry.  This painting was produced from a photograph taken on a visit to Cley in 2002.

Cley Windmill dates from the early 18th Century and is a well-known landmark on the North Norfolk Coast. The Mill itself has been converted into a guesthouse of great character and charm. The old stables and boathouses are now stylish bedrooms or self-catering retreats for independent holidaymakers.

The Mill stands on the north side of the village within easy walking distance of the village centre. It overlooks the sea, the salt marshes and Cley Bird Sanctuary, with Blakeney Harbour in the distance.

In medieval times the prosperous port of Cley was centred near the magnificent church of St. Margaret of Antioch. The town was one of the principal ports of East Anglia, exporting large quantities of wool and grain. The River Glaven was navigable to large ships as far as Glandford and ran into the sea half a mile north west of Cley.

In the early 17th Century the river began to silt up, largely as a result of reclamation done by Sir Henry Calthorpe, and new wharves were built near deep water by the present quay. Cley Windmill dates from the 1700s, although the tower was not completed until some time later. The Customs House and other prominent buildings were also built at this time, after much of the old town was destroyed by fire.

The Mill was first offered for sale in the Norfolk Chronicle on 26th June 1819 and passed through several hands during the next hundred years. The best known of the millers was Steven Barnabas Burroughs, whose family worked and owned the Mill from 1840 to 1919, after which it fell into disrepair. In 1921 it was bought by Sarah Maria Wilson and converted into a holiday home. The conversion involved removing most of the working parts and fixing the cap and sails. The old stones, used for grinding the flour, were set into the ground nearby and the warehouses were converted into stables and boat sheds.

In 1934 the Mill passed to her grandson, Hubert Blount, who made many improvements, including replacing the sails in 1960. During the war years the Mill was used by his aunt, Sister Rachel, who, with another nun, Sister Catherine, became legends in the local area. The Duchess of Bedford, who was finally lost at sea flying her own aircraft, was one of the frequent visitors during this period.

In 1953 the sea again came to Cley, which suffered its worst flooding for 400 years. The Mill stood firm but much of the furniture was damaged or washed away. A sea wall was built around the remainder of the village. In 1979 the Mill passed to Charles and Jane Blount and in 1983 was renovated and converted into its present form. The sails, fanstage and galleries were replaced in 1988.

In 2005, the Mill transferred to the 5th generation of the family, and is now owned and managed by Val and John Woodhouse.