2019, Happy New Year !

How did this arrive so quickly?  Into a new year, I wish you a happy healthy prosperous 2019. May all your sunrises be glorious. This one was painted ‘plien aire’, as it happened, 06 August, One of a series shown on the web site, it’s available [£1,500] and can be acquire in instalments. Whatever, enjoy and know … Read more

REAL painting

“At last I have a REAL painting in my house” [name withheld by request].   “Nelson and Minerve“, The Nelson and Trafalgar Collection, see http://www.frickers.co.uk/…/war-s…/the-trafalgar-collection/ Looking for the very best in modern marine painting? You have found one here.   Available, on loan under a’special arrangement’ to an influential friend of mine, if you are interested, ask, you … Read more

Seamen and slavery

We approach what we all hope will be a better year, 2019, in changing times, I’m thinking of slavery and seamen.

If you’d like to learn more about the struggle to stop slavery, look up William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833) and more especially, Olaudah Equiano.

Olaudah Equiano, also known as known Gustavus Vassa, his many adventures included signing on as a doctor’s assistant and able seaman aboard HMS ‘Racehorse’, under the name of Gustav Weston.  

H M Sloop Racehorse (detail)

The seaman’s lot was a dangerous, hard one as shown in my painting of HM Sloop Racehorse, however there is much more to this painting.

I am delighted, feel honoured, to have been able to include Olaudah Equiano among the crew illustrated in my dramatic painting of ‘Racehorse‘.

Read more

Clearing the decks

Making good as many loose ends as possible, and getting under way for the voyage into 2019.

The painting is ‘Last Departure’. 

Last Departure, Fererria ex Cutty Sark

The old Portuguese ship or more correctly, ‘brigantine’, “Ferreira” departing Falmouth, Cornwall. 

Last Departure detail 1
In the fore ground is a Falmouth Working Boat on her way to the Helford for [new year’s eve?] oysters.

The background is the East side of the entrance to Carrick Roads and Falmouth, St Anthony’s Point and Fraggle Rock, the latter made famous by the children’s TV series ‘The Fraggles’. 

Last Departure detail 2

Read more

1143 words

Going to bed now, late, again. Inspiration Not to be denied, it’s ‘that’ painting again. I have just written 1143 words, an article requested for the best selling journal Yachting Monthly about how my painting “Roaring Forties” was created. I will be tired tomorrow but I have done a good work. This is typical of … Read more

Ship’s Log 24 Dec 2018

Christmas eve, we have reached Christmas eve 2018,  I sincerely wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I wish time permitted me to write to or phone you all.

My day started with a nice surprise, an enquiry about a favourite of mine, the classic B I ship ‘Rajula‘. I keep a print of the painting, very long since sold on my salon wall, just for pleasure. 

Rajula at Madras

It was my links with B I, Blue Funnel, Ocean Steamships and similar companies that prompted Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to ask to meet me. Curious how loose threads in our lives intertwine as we grow older, to make the individual yarn that is each of us. 

Read more

Two large barrels?

An easy to understand formulae is ‘no masts = no sailing ship’.

O f H M Sloop Racehorse ~ Requested by Peter Goodwin’s editor, for the book ‘Nelson’s Arctic Voyage‘ which he has almost completed, due out next Spring [subject to climate change?].

A ‘line drawing’ to show more clearly what is meant by the log entry ‘put preventer gammoning on bowsprit‘. 

Graphite of crew gammoning
 
The seemingly routine log entry refers to a dramatic situation during a full gale at sea.
The rigging, in those far off days made of hemp, had due to weeks of strong gales seriously stretched thus endangering the masts.
Hence my reference to an easy to understand formulae, ‘no masts = no sailing ship’.
 
Therefor an important requirement is to tension the rigging. 

Read more

Hastings and after

 It was ‘perishing cold’ with a penetrating East wind when I visited Hastings and Bexhill. 

Port of Hastings

The keen East wind and showers did not detract in the least from the warm generosity and fine hospitality of Chris FaggJacquie Hinves, Barry, Edwina Harrison, Rob, James McGaw Thomson and the others I was fortunate to have time with. 

Chris, Gordon, James

Many of my formative years were spent in that region of East Sussex. 

Read more

Susie Goodall statement

The following so impressed me I’ve taken the liberty of posting it as it arrived at my studio.
 
“Some people just live for adventure – it’s human nature. And for me, the sea is where my adventure lies. Having grown up admiring Tracy Edwards and Ellen MacArthur, I just knew that one day I needed to try to do this too. Every seafarer understands the risks involved but that’s what makes us stronger and able to overcome other challenges in life”. 

73, DHL Starlight, S Goodall
 
After arriving in Punta Arenas on Friday, Susie Goodall thanked all those involved in her rescue and suggested that she can’t wait to get back to sea.
In a statement she says; 

Read more

Party Time !

50 years to the day TODAY, this moment painted for the only eye witness, hence reposting this painting, named by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston “Roaring Forties” = Party time! 

Roaring Forties, the print

Robin wrote to me “for a brief inglorious moment there was me & two masts in sight & nothing but ocean in any direction for 2,000 miles“…

Roaring Forties” “Suhaili” & Robin Knox-Johnston, 16 December 1968, deep in The Great Southern Ocean.

By sailing Falmouth to Falmouth Robin sailed into history as the very first person to circumnavigate, sole, single handed, non stop. 

Not many artists are so fortunate as to make a painting that becomes world famous, I have several to my credit, this being number one, thank you Robin.

Read more