Vegaskip

The Good Old Days 

Ajax and a sister in the 60's when I was 'in'.

Here is the RFA Gray Rover and HMS Britomart with 'little friends' Unfortunatly both ships were sunk, Bretomart by friendly fire.

jim

Thanks Pat. I did this for a friend who worked for a while,taking Timber to the beach on the Island of Mull, wher it was loaded like this.

Jim 

One of my favourites. If it wasn't for these guys 'The Few'would have been even fewer and flying Gliders!

Keeping the Spitfires flying
HMCS Chilliwack heads for a burning tanker in a North Atlantic convoy. The supply of oil was vital for the war effort
Watercolour 16 X 9 inches

Life'sa Beach!

'Puffer' unloading coal on a Western Isles beach.

jim

HMS Sussex launches her Walrus.

Jim

Thank you John, my pleasure.

Here is what I'm working on just now, nearly finished. Called 'Foul Deck'

WIP. This is HMS Hermes, 1960's. a Sea Vixen has just landed on. Up Hook, up Flaps, Wings folded and is being Taxiied off the Landing area. Unfortunately not fast enough as his tail was over the safety line (Foul Deck) and the Gannet on 'Finals' has been 'Waved off' to go round again.
Still needs more people, plane guard Helicopter and Port Cat and some FD details. ( The Director has just passed the a/c over to you the viewer!)

w/c 15" X 10"

(No not a Searchlight, 984 Radar 'dustbin')
Jim

Gas Tanker James Cook, and Endevour (replica) watercolour A4 size.
Jim

HMS Howe and KG V escort Italian Battleships Vittorio Venito and Littorio, four Crusers and Destroyers to Alexandria 1943
W/C 14 X 7 inches

For my American friends tomorrow.

Yesterday was the Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbour. I painted this a while back as a small token of remembrance.
Dusk 8th Dec 1941 USS Enterprise CV-6 enters Pearl, to re fuel and store, she sailed on the 9th.
watercolour 15" X 4"

Jim

Thanks Pat. Here's a more modern scene, Gold Rover topping up a couple of her oppos.

Jim

HMS Suffolk Sights Bismarck.
a quote from 'An Eyewitness Account of the Sinking of HMS Hood' by Lt D. N. Paton 
'Suddenly, at 7.22 in the evening of 23rd., one of the look-outs sighted Bismarck and Prinz Eugen emerging from a snow squall between Suffolk and the ice. There could be no mistaking the vastness of the battleship at the point blank range of seven miles, though the somewhat inappropriate remark of a midshipman – “Hood and Prince of Wales, I suppose” – subsequently became legendary. The enemy ships were moving fast in a S.W. direction parallel to the ice.'

When I read something like that, it makes me want to grab the brushes and paint it. Like here. Much more satisfying than the 'Eye candy' of the one above.
Jim

Did this one this afternoon, Early winter morning departure. All from imagination 
14" X 10"

jim

The Channel Fleet off Plymouth 'at a time of great change'

Jim

Thes two paintings were presented to the Governer of Arkhangelsk Provence, and the Mayor of the city, by the British Ambassador to Moscow. The presentation was to mark the beguining of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first Convoy to Russia in WW2. (Operation Dervish)

Both paintings are of the arrival of SS Llanstephen Castle at Arkhangelsk from diferent angles. 

Photo of the presentation (Grey beard is the British Ambassador, the other is Governor Orlov)

Jim

Here are some Cliffs I painted 

both are of Muckle Flugga most northerly lighthouse in UK

Jim

Thank you both. They were done way back in the 1980's?

Today's painting is The Drifter Base at Flotta in Scapa Flo. The Drifters were used as Tenders to the Grand Fleet in WW1 and the RN in general in WW2.

And to give them something to tend ........ 

Nevada , part of the 6th BS of the Grand Fleet in 1918

Jim

Thank you Nils, however it is all based on being able to draw. When when you've mastered that, it's all down hill and practice.

 For these I used a dental technician's drill with Dimond point and carborundon discs. I tried to do it for a living, but I'm no salesman.!  Here' some mor but not maritime.

Jim 

Many years ago I did a bit of Glass Engraving. 

Here are a bowl  and a table lamp 

a Stuart Yacht and. Sea Battle 

jim

Today's painting. 

Battleship HMS Warspite in WW2.

jim

I worked in Shetland for 4 years and saw 'the heavenly dancers' several times. One night in particular it went on for ages, we were in the pub, and everyone moved out side and watched with drink in hand. One of those once in a lifetime events.

jim

Thank you all for commenting .

here are some Aurora Borealis pictures 

Jim

Some painting 

Jim

 Here's one Pre my RN Service, although I think anyone who was in the 'Far Flung' in the 60/70's  will be familiar with this view of Hong Kong 
The ship is 'Bendoran', I was there on her sister 'Benmacduhi'. This one is for a fellow Merchant Navy Association member who served on her.
W/C  about 16" X 10"
Jim

Thank you Chris, you never know, I'm always looking fo events to paint.  Size, Tourist was about as big as I do, it was Acrylic on stretched canvas (24" X 13")  I don't do the bigger one so much as they are a nuisance to store. Now I mostly use Watercolour on A3 pads about 16" X 10" . I usually leave then in the pad, much easier to store.

Ambush!

Fairmile C class MGBs waiting for the morning mist to clear

Jim

Empire Tourist was returning from Russia in Concoy RA 57. She was torpedoed by U703, her cargo consisted of timber and coal, which may have helped in the survival of her entire crew. The survivors were picked up by HMS Gleaner while the destroyer HMS Milne hunted the U-boat. L to R Destroyer Milne, Liberty Ship Philip Livingston, Empire Tourist, HMS Gleaner,with other convoy ships in the distance, including the Escort carrier HMS Chaser.
Jim