Radford, Plymouth

Radford Lake, The whole area has a rich and mysterious history.

I will share with you, especially those who know or would like to know the Plymouth area, part of my answer via a Facebook comment from my friend Linda Winter who reminded me via her post of the old Radford House controversially demolished in 1937 and the manor that preceded it, the caves, Radford and Hooe lakes, you referred to Linda Winter, are all still there and I’ll reminisce a little, about happy days….

Reverting to nature, Hooe Lake,
Reverting to nature, Hooe Lake,

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Les Sables d’Olonne?

Never heard of Les Sables d’Olonne?
You will now…
News in today via Linkedin, the prestigious #GoldenGlobeRace 2018 which the beautiful port of Falmouth lost to Plymouth will now be held in France because of Brexit.
The race marks the anniversary of Sir Robin #Knox-Johnston’s victory in the Sunday Times Golden Globe in 1968 when he sailed Falmouth to Falmouth.

Falmouth Harbour, sunset
Falmouth Harbour, sunset

Robin sailed into history as the first man to sail solo nonstop around the planet.
Sir Robin #Knox-Johnston wrote about that in “A world of my own” (ISBN 0-246-13410-0) and he and his wife commissioned the now famous painting “Roaring Forties” ~ painted by guess who?

Roaring Forties
Roaring Forties

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That elusive 3 %

Artist to Artist ~

Surprise, Hermione 24.10.17
Surprise, Hermione 24.10.17

last 3 % ~ found it for “Surprise ! Hermione”.

The #Hermione painting is an imaginative interpretation, not an exact study. so here is the updated picture, enjoy.
Artist to Artist, responding to my special friend of many years, David Folley, in his own right an artist of extraordinary talents and knowledge, wrote to me about “Surprise ! Hermione”.

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Celebrating or commemorating?

Let us spare a thought for all those men in both fleets at Trafalgar on the 21 st October 1805.

The battle of #Trafalgar was as much about a culture clash as anything else, the opposing sides both felt strongly, they represented freedom and a civilised way ahead.

A close examination of what they wrote, including French and Spanish documents, shows all behaved with bravery, gallantry, discipline and loyalty during and after the battle.

Trafalgar Dawn, you are on board HMS Victory at 06.05.
Trafalgar Dawn, you are on board HMS Victory at 06.05.

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No alternative, no escape

We are approaching another Trafalgar anniversary, 21 October so I thought it would be fun to share one of my less ‘known’, Nelson and Trafalgar Collection paintings.

I present “Trafalgar Dawn, The French Perspective”. 

Trafalgar Dawn, The French Perspective
Trafalgar Dawn, The French Perspective

This painting measures a healthy 30 x 121 cms (12″ x 48″)

This remarkable scene was conceived as the twin of “Trafalgar Dawn”, as seen from HMS Victory at 06.05, Monday 21st October 1805.

Both are available as signed limited edition prints. 

Trafalgar Dawn, The French Perspective ~ as a fine art print
Trafalgar Dawn, The French Perspective ~ as a fine art print

Besides being images to remember, both are as historically accurate as my diligent research in Britain, France and Spain can make them.

As for ‘no escape’, the records clearly show the French and Spanish knew of Nelson’s presence and even anticipated his tactics.

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Olaudah Equiano I salute you

A BIG deal ? Google’s latest home page marks what would have been Olaudah Equiano’s (1746-1797) 272nd birthday (1746-1797). I was very surprised…! Olaudah Equiano who? Olaudah Equiano will feature as already planned, as one of the fore deck hands soon to be drawn in my new painting of HMS Racehorse, I’ll explain why. Firstly … Read more

Lunch of launch?

The following surfaced today while I was following up on a ‘Nelson and Trafalgar Collection‘ enquiry. I’ll more or less quote from my response and share with you the photos referred to.

Launch of the Lord Nelson
Launch of the Lord Nelson

I’d written; I realised I have another Lord Nelson painting which I guess you are unaware of.
It’s not listed in the collection.
I’d overlooked it in part because it only appears in my online archive as ~ “The Launch of the Lord Nelson”. 
That is launch not lunch !
The painting measures 22 x 30 cms (9″ x 12″) and the photo with the film crew shows, it was painted ‘plien aire’.

en at work, painting the launch of JST Lord Nelson, BBC filming
en at work, painting the launch of JST Lord Nelson, BBC filming

I don’t off hand remember what happened to the 24 x 36″ painting of The Lord Nelson shown to my left.

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Racehorse progress

Here we go again, brace yourself, be sitting comfortably before looking at the images…

Racehorse progress 14.10.17
Racehorse progress 14.10.17
Attached are images of the progress with Racehorse.
Rather like writing a book or building a boat, it’s bit of a mess there is much still to do, as yet nothing is really finished but definitely showing promise.

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Page updated

HMS Racehorse, Further Reading, page updated. Text is still in working notes form, much revised and updated, nevertheless at this point in time and unfinished ‘manuscript, enjoy.