Democracy?

This is not democracy as we British understand the word.
Today it looks as if during our unconventional referendum the Brexiteers told numerous lies, many quite deliberate, even to the extent that some police prosecutions are in progress. 

E U Parliament, [author’s photo, May 2011]

Pro Brexit leaders denied the now blatantly evident monumental damage being done to the British economy and yet can’t today show one single solid tangible benefit from Brexit, all is opinion and conjecture, ‘smoke and mirrors’, dazzle camouflage …. 

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400 miles of finish

The Gallant veteran French sailor veteran French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede is now within 400 miles of the Golden Globe Race finish line. This despite suffering a capsize and serious mast damage during a southern ocean storm and numerous other difficulties.

He is expected to receive a huge welcome home in Les Sables d’Olonne on Monday 28th January.

The race replicates the historic original single handed non stop circumnavigation won 50 years ago by a 26 year old Robin Knox- Johnston.

Roaring Forties, the print

Robin had his achievement commemorated by the painting he named “Roaring Forties” which is available as a signed, numbered print on canvas for the look and feel of the original, from my web site from £157.00 inc P&P.

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Titanic progress

Titanic’s, “Plymouth Harbour“, after Norman Wilkinson, a major painting in progress, new today on my web site. Very unusual, I took this to my client’s home for him to review progress. He is THE leading expert on Titanic. Usually clients communicate by phone or email, some visit my studio. The original by the famous Norman Wilkinson … Read more

This week

1922 HMS VICTORY  this week, was moved into No 2 Dock Portsmouth, preserved for the nation and world. Dockyard 400, painted with special permission on location, visit for the story https://www.frickers.co.uk/art/marine-art/war-ships/the-trafalgar-collection/dockyard-400 If you are interested in acquiring one of this series, ask. You may find them more affordable than you first guessed.

You may want to keep this

If you have a copy of this classic picture “Roaring Forties“, you may like to keep this with it.

Keep in mind the figure on the original is about 2 cm tall so what you are seeing is a remarkable enlargement.

Roaring Forties detail

for a brief inglorious moment there was me & two masts in sight & nothing but ocean in any direction for 2,000 miles“. ~ “I saw this grey beard approaching. It wasn’t the biggest, it looked dangerous. I leapt into the rigging to avoid being swept away” > Robin Knox-Johnston wrote that in a letter to me a few months after our first meeting.

Making history, the Golden Globe Race 1968/9.

my master printer who proudly keeps a large framed “Roaring Forties”, the only framed print on his studio wall, signed by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston sent me the detail you can enjoy here, from the painting. 

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A wordy start

This year in my studio has started with a bit of good luck.

The 1805 Club of North America branch asked me to write an article on how “I Have Urgent Dispatches” came to be created.

I Have Urgent Dispatches, print with texts

This is the first time since we started all those years ago inspired by the late and much missed Nick Varley, that one of the most influential ‘Nelson’ society’s has asked to show this example from my ‘Nelson and Trafalgar Collection’.

 
 

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Of Mice and men

All here is the usual insanity that passes for normal.  All here is the usual insanity that passes for normal.  I found a mouse in the house… It escaped.  I set traps which so far have killed 2 mice.  The cheese is very good, for my mice, top class cheese. The mice I put in … Read more

A yellow question

Which was ‘THE’ yellow, my thanks to an alert new friend on Facebook, ‘Dockyard Pirates‘ for drawing my attention to The Society for Nautical Research page and the question.
Yes there is there a research paper published. 

Nelson’s Bright Yellow

It was published in Mariners Mirror, the learned journal of The Society for Nautical Research.

The author is Peter Goodwin is a distinguished naval author and about to publish “Nelson’s Arctic Voyage“, was Keeper and curator of HMS Victory for some 20 years.

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Changing times

Into a new dawn, #painting #printing 2019, changing times, then as now, major change was in the wind.

Then, Britons were ready, well prepared, in good heart.

An officer wrote “I was awoken by the crew rushing on deck and by their cheering“. 

Today, we have problems with Europe, Brexit,  ‘Gilets Jaunes’, climate change, Islamic terrorism and much else stressing our tranquillity,  I wish all who follow my blog peace, prosperity & good health. 

“Trafalgar Dawn”

#Nelson “may no misconduct, in any one tarnish it: and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet. For myself individually, I commit my life to Him who made me“.

“#Trafalgar Dawn“, shows you H.M.S. Victory, the view at 06.05, Monday 21st October 1805 , the “a forest of masts“, as described in diaries. 

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