The latest interview with naturists around the world comes from Vancouver, Canada.

We are delighted to welcome Steve the Nomadic Naturist to this project:

1 Tell us a little about yourselves and your part of the world.

I’m originally from South East England, and have lived in both the USA and Canada for nearly half my life, as well as short spells in France and Portugal. Since moving to Canada, I have been employed as a professional fine art figure model, so I have lived most of my working life in the nude while being here! Sadly, Vancouver has become a much busier city since the 2010 Winter Olympics, and probably one of the most expensive Canadian and North American cities to live in. It does, however, have three legal clothing-optional beaches within easy reach! 

2 What was the attitude towards nudity and naturism in your home and upbringing as a child and teen?

I remember being allowed to run around naked at the beach when we were very young, but after starting primary school that changed, and we had to wear the dreaded speedos in the pool or at the beach. 

Definitely not a naturist household growing up!

3 How did you first get involved in naturism and what were your initial thoughts?

As a child I always hated wearing clothes, and after puberty I would take myself off to the woods and hang out as nature intended on my own. It just felt right for me, so natural. My first actual naturist experience was with my girlfriend. We made a trip to Mablethorpe Beach, in Lincolnshire, which was known for being clothing-optional at the time. Unfortunately it was covered in sea mist, but being typically English, we still stripped off and laid out in the hazy sunshine, although we didn’t see any other nudists until the mist cleared and there was a game of naked volleyball going on just a short distance away! 

We then decided that a holiday at a French naturist camp would be a better introduction to what naturism was really about in warmer weather!

4. Do you think that your initial reasons and attitudes towards naturism have changed since then and how?

I don’t think they’ve changed, although I do know that I now prefer more natural resorts and campsites, rather than hotels and places like Cap d’Agde, even though they have an important part to play in the naturist world.

5.Tell us about your naturist adventures so far.

Too many to tell in full, but our first trip was with Emsdale Travel, to La Grande Cosse in Southern France; a camping holiday that was probably the perfect introduction, as we met other young couples and families who were life-time naturists, not naked newbies like we were at the time!

Then we went to Costa Natura in Spain. A little more luxurious as we had an apartment, but also met some great people there, and I have since been back a couple of times on my own.

The following year we spent a wonderful British summer at BDOC, meeting the legendary Craven Walker, naturist pioneer and the inventor of the lava lamp!

After that we spent a couple of weeks at La Jenny, on the French Atlantic Coast, another wonderful resort, with a stunning beach!

Since then, I have visited several nudist camps on my travels in the USA, as well as travelling around France for a couple of summers in the early 90s making promotional DVDs for naturist camp grounds, with naturist photographer Mike Herring, who, incidentally, was the person who got me into modelling.

6. How would you best explain naturism to someone new to it and what advice would you offer to them?

Funnily enough, I have introduced several friends and a couple of ex-girlfriends to the delights of naturism, and they especially loved the feeling of swimming without soggy swimwear! I always suggested that they wouldn’t know how it truly felt until they had tried it for themselves, but was always careful not to say “YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!”

Letting them judge for themselves, without any pressure is the best way, in my honest opinion.

It’s not for everyone, just as being a textile is not for me!

7. What do you think naturism has taught you about yourself and do you think it has changed you in any way?

I definitely think that naturism has given me more self-confidence over the years, especially with body image. As a figure model for artists and photographers, I am particularly aware of how my body is scrutinised yet I am completely comfortable with that.

8. Do you think that there are certain people better suited to naturism and others that are not suited to it and if so why do you think that?

That’s a good question, and I think a lot depends on upbringing and cultural beliefs. Also, the current social media platforms can be a big influence on how people see social naturism, in both positive and negative ways, unfortunately. A level of maturity and common sense is needed to understand naturism, and sadly that seems to be lacking in some of the social media that I’m exposed to! (pardon the pun!)

9. How does your country consider naturism? How do the laws stand supporting naturism?

Canada has a slightly more liberal take on naturism compared to the USA, having lived in both countries. It is now legal for women to be topless throughout Canada, although not a common practice except on the clothing optional beaches that I’ve been to. I very rarely see topless females on textile city beaches, though I rarely frequent them, either!

10. How would you like to see the future of naturism developing over the next 30 years and do you feel these ideas are achievable?

I’d like to see more clothing-optional beaches, which would hopefully lead to more people trying naturism, and enjoying the benefits of the naturist lifestyle.

Sadly, our main beach in Vancouver, seems to be suffering more from cultural issues, and a definite lack of social awareness and maturity among certain sections of society. There are definite religious and moral issues that need to be overcome for naturism to develop in the world, from my personal experience.

11 What are the biggest problems that naturism is currently facing?

I think the main issue for me, seemingly worldwide, is the lack of young couples and families taking part in naturism, although apparently that seemed to be changing after the pandemic, especially in the UK, where there was an upsurge in interest in the nude lifestyle. Young people generally want more freedom and do not necessarily want to be involved in running clubs. I think that this was a particular issue when I became involved in naturism and not much seems to have changed.

12. If the world was accepting of naturism - happy to take on a clothing optional policy in most situations - how do you think it would change the way society works?

There are always going to be religious and moral protests to a clothing optional lifestyle, especially in certain countries and cultures. Unfortunately, I don’t think that the human race is sufficiently emotionally advanced to ever bring this into practice.

13. Are there any aspect of naturism that frustrates you or annoys you or you feel let down by?

I think that, as in most walks of life, there are aspects that frustrate me, especially the cliques that sadly seem to evolve in clubs and even on free beaches. Unfortunately it’s part of human nature. It would be good to see younger people getting involved, too. As, even when I was starting out so many years ago, for some reason it always seemed like an older person’s activity.

14. Has there ever been a specific day, location, venue, activity that at the end of it has made you think: this is naturism at its best?

Definitely, when I have had a quiet day on the beach, listening to the wind and the waves, feeling the sun and water on my body.

15. Do you speak to friends and family about your naturism?

To be honest I let potential partners know early on that I’m a naturist, and there are some who’ve tried it and enjoyed it, and others who can’t understand it. I don’t really discuss with my friends and family, who all know about my naturist lifestyle, unless it comes up in conversation… like taking part in the World Naked Bike Ride!

16. If you were to close your eyes and consider naturism as an animal, a colour and a food item what three answers would come to mind?

Animal - a water lizard…that enjoys sun, rocks and water

Colour - green or blue

Food item - sunflower seeds

17. Do you have any naturist regrets?

Yes, I wish that I had worked more on naturist campsites when I was younger and been more fully immersed in the naturist lifestyle.

18. Why do you think people should join ANW?

A sense of on-line community as well as the possibility of “in person” community. Awareness of how other countries and cultures regard naturism. ANW gives newbies the opportunity to learn from the experiences of long-term naturists.

19. If you could go anywhere in the world now as a naturist where would it be?

In an ideal world, there would be naturist towns (large cities wouldn’t work in my opinion) and villages, especially in coastal areas to choose from, but possibly a wonderful riverside garden in Southern England or France.

20. If ANW wasn't about naturism but something else entirely what other life choice/hobby/interest/passion...would have made you consider joining it?

To be honest, not much else, apart from paganism, which is one of the reasons that the naturist lifestyle appeals to me… being at one with and part of nature, in our natural state. I've never really felt the need to belong to a club, except for team games, when I played and coached amateur football for over 40 years...

Naturism is an individual choice that can also be a very pleasant social activity, and as one gets more mature in life, it’s good to find people with the same lifestyle choice.

21. Many naturists incorporate naturism into their daily home life - how important do you think that is to naturists?

It all depends on the individual, but for me it’s very important. When I’m living on my own or with a partner, then I’m a definite at home nudist!

22. You have travelled quite a bit, have you found naturism is treated differently from one country to the next?

Definitely! European countries, even the more religious ones, seem to be more accommodating to the naturist lifestyle, and it’s seen as a more family oriented lifestyle.

The difference between the attitude to naturist beaches in Europe as opposed to what I have experienced in North America is very noticeable.

In my experience it seems as though clothing optional beaches in North America and Canada are seen more as places where anything goes, with a lot of excessive drinking and recreational drug use particularly obvious, rather than for healthy outdoor, natural living.

Thank you Steve for sharing aspects of his life and naturism in this interview. 

There are over 800 articles, blogs and interviews shared on ANW, as well as 14300+ Members, 300+ topics debated in the Forum, 1000+ Albums and 35000+ Photographs, 4100+ Beaches, Venues, Clubs and other Naturist Opportunities, and much more to connect with in our womderful naturist community.  

ANW welcomes all who are respectful and interested in naturism and invite all genuine naturist organisations, clubs, events, venues and other opportunities to be part of the ANW community and work with us to encourage the growth and acceptance of naturism around the world. If you have any questions email Anna and Steve at [email protected]


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