Finding the Mary Celeste oil on canvas 23 x 15 inches
The Mary, not Marie, Celeste was discovered abandoned between the Azores and Portugal in 1872.  A boat with three men went to investigate.  The sky is inspired  by one  I witnessed in the Azores. 

Bidston Hill, oil on canvas 23 x 15 inches
This British four masted barque was lost off Staten Island in 1934

Brig and Whaler in the Beagle Channel oil on canvas 23 x15 inches
The background to this scene is based on a picture I took in the Beagle Channel, but the ships were added.

Oyster Smacks, oil on canvas 19 x15 inches
I liked the pose of this old fisherman leaning on his tiller



                   HMS Brunswick and Le Vengeur du Peuple.  Oil on canvas 27 x 19 inches.
 On 1 June 1794 the Brunswick engaged Le Vengeur in the Battle of the Glorious 1st June.  Both ship's were dismasted and Capt' Harvey was killed.  When the hat was shot off the figurehead depicting the Duke of Brunswick the sailors nailed the Captain's hat to it, so his Grace would not go into action bareheaded. I have chosen the opening of the engagement when the Brunswick is manoeuvring to cut the French line.

Classic yachts are a difficult subject to resist.  Sophie Elizabeth, originally Safari was built in 1910, she was 65ft overall and weighed 49 tons. Oil on canvas 19 x15 inches.

Traditional boats sailing in the evening at St Mawes was too good to miss.  This 18x14" canvas tries to capture the light.

I was crew on Noel Marshal's yacht Sadko, which visited Elephant Island in 2007.  Luckily we were able  to land.  This 21" x 15" picture is based on that experience.

After a visit to Venice, I had to have a stab at it.  This 22"x14" oil is based on a photo in an old Italian touring guide.

Becalmed off Whitby, oil on canvas 23 x 17 inches. 2011.
  This painting was partly inspired by the photos of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe.  Apologies to Turner, but it  is more naturalistic than his famous picture. 

Derelict Tugboat in Ushuaia

Oil on canvas, 19x15 inches, 2011, available for sale

I saw this tugboat lying in Ushuaia, Argentina.  There is always something sad and mysterious about a derelict ship.  The distant hills are on the far, Chilean side, of the Beagle channel.