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Loch Nevis and Clansman, Caledonian MacBrayne ferries: more than ‘just’ ferries

Calmac_DSC_0402.JPG Loch Nevis and Clansman, Hebrides, a gentleman who bought our recent print of Loch Nevis has kindly sent us some outstanding photos and engaging remarks about the Calmac ships featured in our paintings for us to all share, see below.Loch_Nevis.jpg

 

He added in a later e mail “it was your first email today that made me suddenly think that perhaps you had never seen the ships in service so when I am next in that part of the world I shall photograph the other two paintings in situ as it were”.

This site is about much more than selling, we are happy to share the photos and story, enjoy.

 

That said we have to eat and besides the pictures ‘live’ when placed on your wall so Loch Nevis and Clansman are available in print buy now while you have the chance, signed, numbered, easy to purchase from page http://www.frickers.co.uk/prints.html

 

Caledonian MacBrayne ferries: Calmac ships are more than ‘just’ ferries and ferry fans familiar with this web site will recall Gordon painted 3 ships for Calmac.

 

Typical working sketch, design nearing completion: Clansman_sketch_IMG_0869_d.JPG

These 3 paintings were used in the main salons’ of the respective ships.

Clansman_arriving_at_castle_Town__Barra.jpg                                           HatPtTarbert9201_B_.jpg        Loch_Nevis.jpg

Clansman_detail_10.01.08_d.JPG Hebrides_detail_2.JPG    Lochnevis_detail_2_d.JPG

Gordon wrote: “Graham, your beautiful pictures in particular the 2 of Clansman in bad weather astonished me and bring back a flood of very happy memories.

As you may know I had the great pleasure of visiting the isles 3 times with Captain J A B Simkins to prepare each painting while the ships were building.

I met the design staff and some of the builders and worked closely with them.

I had the pleasure of attending Clansman’s naming ceremony at Appledore and have only seen her once since then when I sailed on her with John Simkins while preparing for the painting of Hebrides.

I’ve not seen Hebrides or Loch Nevis in service and only glimpsed Clansman.

I’d love to work for Calmac again, unlikely though as the people I knew have moved on; those were very special times”.

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Of the Loch Nevis print Graham generously wrote “Received with great delight  …just superb …the colours magnificent  …the whole thing just a pure delight  … thanks also for sending the brochure from the European Parliament exhibition your skills and mastery of the subject shown in all their true glory .

I shall be aboard Loch Nevis at the end of August so will forward you some photos of her in action

Thanks once again Gordon

Graham”.

You can see the pictures on pages

http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/clansman_barra.html – available as a signed numbered print

http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/lochnevis_muck.html – available as a signed numbered print

http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/hebrides_uig.html

http://frickers.co.uk/marine-art/hebrides_tarbert.html

http://www.frickers.co.uk/marine-art/lochnevis_rhum.html

 

You can securely order a copy by scrolling down page

http://www.frickers.co.uk/prints.html

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The ‘Calmac’ photos cover as follows

Clansman in the Sound of Mull July 2011

Hebrides arriving at Loch Maddy North Uist Sat 3 Sept 2011

Loch Nevis on the Small Isles service to Rum Monday 5 Sept 2011

and finally

Clansman in stormy seas returning from the Isle of Tiree having spent 4 hours getting there from Oban only to be unable to dock..4 hours back !!

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With a poet, painter’s or author’s sensitivity he added,

“During my little tour of the Outer Hebrides it was brought home to me once again that these are more than ships… they are a community on the move and the whole of island life depends on the arrival/departure of these ships on a daily basis .

On the day I travelled on Loch Nevis the lorry pulling off the ship was enroute to Kimnloch Castle on Rum with a brand new oil tank for the central heating for the castle… without that delivery it was going to be kind of cold .

Also on board that morning were the post/newspapers for Eigg, Rum and Canna,

The supplies from the local supermarket of fresh veg, toilet rolls, bread, couple of tins of paint etc .If Loch Nevis the ferry didn’t get there nor did the toilet roll !!!

The ship also picked up at Eigg two injured Manx Shearwaters and transferred them to the RSPB warden on Rum so they could be returned to good health.

Loch Nevis is so much an integral part of life there

Anyways enough waffle !! You should be pleased you are not here today… winds up to gale force

Graham

The expression “stourie weather” comes to mind”.

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Gordon has happy memories of working for Calmac who flew him to locations so he could experience the light, atmosphere and meet the people.

We hope you agree the resultant paintings are outstanding?

Princess Anne who knows the Western isles intimately spent 15 minutes at the naming ceremony of “Clansman” talking to the artist and suggested to the Calmac directors he should be encouraged to paint more Hebridean scenes.

While this artist can work very successfully from plans and photographs, there is a significant advantage in his seeing the locations when possible.

Calmac_DSC_0414.JPG

DSC_0467.JPG  DSC_0465.JPG  DSC_0450.JPG  Calmac_DSC_0451.JPG

Calmac_DSC_0452.JPG

DSC_0425.JPG  DSC_0255.JPG  DSC_0370.JPG    DSC_0215.JPGWestern_Isles_2009_Clansman_arrives_at_Castlebay_with_the_07.30_Lochboisdale_to_Oban_service_8_June_09.JPG

 

   Clanmsman_returns_to_oban_after_being_unable_to_birth_at_Tiree_May_05_3.JPG

Clansman__completetly_covered_by_large_breaking_waves_returns_to_Oban__being_unable_to_berth_at_tiree.JPG