Annual Exhibition 2024
Works are available to browse & buy at www.mallgalleries.org.uk
020 7968 0966 | artsales@mallgalleries.com | www.mallgalleries.org.uk
President’s Foreword
It seems so short a time since I was reviewing last year’s exhibition on these gallery walls. I then thought it could not be bettered. So, here I am again looking at another most splendid collection of marine art. Over the months since last October creativity may have abounded at sea, on the shores and in the seclusion of many a studio. The results of many endeavours are here to see. I now feel sure you will agree that this could be the very best annual RSMA exhibition ever.
It is therefore with great pleasure that I am able to introduce you to this, the 79th exhibition of marine art. On show can be seen works by some of Europe’s foremost exponents of the genre. It is not just about boats and beaches. But coastal industry and trade, waves, watersides and sea life above and below.
Our members have once more delivered an exciting cargo of visually inspirational delights. Their professional standard is to be expected as always. However, we also rely on the entries from non-members.
It was encouraging that this year we had a record number of works entered. This included a significant entry from younger artists. The breadth and choice of media explored and results presented extended the scope of marine art.
The selection process was rigorous, each work being carefully considered by the panel of selectors, each year adding new members. It is a prime concern to accept and display as many works by nonmembers as possible.
I look forward every year to that very special day seeing the new work by our members, assembled with the selected works from the open call prior to the hanging on the walls of the prestigious Mall Galleries. Our aim is to hang all the works by either our members or the non-members to best advantage in each of the three galleries. The continued high quality of 3D work obviously gets paid special attention.
The RSMA gives thanks to our award and prize sponsors. Their continued generous support must be applauded. The awards allow the Society to commend the artists in this exhibition for their excellent contributions.
This year we are pleased to announce two new awards. The first is from Marine Quarterly, the ‘thinking sailor’s journal’. This award is titled ‘Sea from Seaward’. The second new award is from our most valued and loved late member Lorraine Abraham. The annual award is to be dedicated to her husband Robert. It is for the best oil painting in the exhibition by a full member of the RSMA.
I must thank the members who have given their time and energies to make this exhibition a success. Their efforts in selecting and effectively displaying all the works on show as you can see has been most worthwhile. Finally, my thanks go to all the staff at the gallery. It is sometimes easy to forget what goes on behind the scenes, planning, marketing, PR, and the complexities of administration.
To which is added in preparation for exhibition, the gallery hanging technicians.
But not forgetting the ‘front of house’ staff who welcome our visitors.
By now many will have had a preview online of the exhibition, some lucky viewers may well have already purchased a work. So, welcome on board to this year’s annual exhibition and one last word.
Enjoy.
President, Royal Society of Marine Artists
Events Programme
The Royal Society of Marine Artists presents a series of special events to complement the RSMA Annual Exhibition 2024:
Glazing & Limited Palettes
Thursday 19 September, 10am to 12 noon
Join Greg Ramsden ARSMA for a demonstration where he will explore the use of glazing and the art of colour restraint within his work.
Greg will share his thoughts on composition and work through the thought process behind the use of a limited colour palette.
President's Tour
Thursday 19 September, 12 noon
Join the President of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, John Scott Martin, for a tour of the RSMA Annual Exhibition 2024.
Atmospheric Coastal Light
Thursday 19 September, 2pm to 4pm
Jenny Aitken RSMA will demonstrate atmospheric coastal light.
Jenny's connection to the sea means that her work brims with appreciation for our coastlines, as she captures the movement, light, and colours of the ocean.
Sailing in Watercolour
Thursday 19 September, 3pm to 5pm
Srirangam Mohankumar ARSMA intends to demonstrate a sailing subject in watercolour.
Kumar's specialisation is watercolour painting. In this area he shows an instinctive mastery of skill and economy which has been recognised, appreciated and rewarded. He uses a direct technique, which has been compared to that of Winslow Homer.
Light, Reflections and Water(colour)
Friday 20 September, 10am to 12 noon
Mark Buck ARSMA will be showing how to capture light, reflections and water in watercolour.
The aim is to create that feeling of dancing reflections in a harbour setting with Schmincke watercolours on St Cuthberts Millford Paper.
Painting in Oils
Friday 20 September, 2pm to 4pm
Patsy Moore ARSMA will paint in oils, a scene typical of her favoured subject matter: marine.
She says, "As I'm not a speedy painter, I shall bring a canvas, already marked out and underpainted. During the two hours, I shall be happy to paint, chat my way through my usual process and materials used, and answer questions as we go along."
Mark Myers PPRSMA The “Medusa”, 32 guns, sailing from the Downs, August 1801
Events Programme (continued)
Paul Wright RSMA S.M.S Seydlitz
Artist Talk: Painting Ships from History
Saturday 21 September, 2.30pm onwards
Four celebrated members of the Royal Society of Marine Artists discuss their approaches to this ever popular subject.
The talk will be illustrated with many images of their paintings, and followed by an opportunity for questions.
Speakers:
• Geoffrey Huband on Narrative in painting
• Geoff Hunt on Nelson's sailing navy
• Mark Myers on Historic sail and exploration
• Paul Wright on The age of iron and steel
Introduced by John Scott Martin, President of the RSMA
Free with gallery admission (£5), booking required at www.mallgalleries.org.uk
Geoff Hunt PPRSMA His new flagship: King George III visits HMS Victory, 25 April 1778
Sizing Up | Plein Air Painting
Wednesday 25 September, 10am to 12 noon
Christopher Slater ARSMA will work from a small plein air painting of a Cornish beach (10 x 12 ins), enlarging it to 20 x 24 inches and incorporating figures in oils.
After studying Fine Art at Sheffield University, Christopher worked as an Illustrator before a visit to an exhibition of Modern Impressionists moved him towards working en plein air.
Catching the Light
Thursday 26 September, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Roger Dellar PS RI ROI ARSMA will demonstrate catching the light with a limited palette.
Roger's enjoyment of painting is the process rather than the end result. It is about finding the subject and letting it emerge. He likes to work with a limited palette adding a few brights for emphasis.
Studies to Studio
Thursday 26 September, 2pm to 4pm
Roger Dellar PS RI ROI ARSMA will demonstrate how to develop small plein air studies into larger studio pieces.
Roger works from life and in the studio, and uses one of the following: oil, pastel, watercolour or gouache. He uses a sketchbook for gaining information if he is out and wishing to travel light.
A large proportion of his work is created by painting a series of small oils on location and developing them later into larger, more considered pieces.
All events will take place at Mall Galleries.
Prizes and Awards
BAE Systems Naval Ships Award
For the best work capturing the story of British Shipbuilding – People, Ships and Shipyards. The work will capture some of the rich history in British shipbuilding through the ages and looking into the future with particular focus on people, skilled crafts, trades and emerging technologies. The work will embody the characters and passion of the British shipbuilding community and bring to life the essence of this historic British industry.
Value: £5,000.
The Baltic Exchange Award
For an outstanding work related to the maritime industry, selected by the Society’s President and the Chairman of the Baltic Exchange. Including works related to trade (ports, cargo vessel, etc), ship building, safety at sea, the crew, the RNLI or NCI. The Baltic is an historic membership organisation at the heart of the international shipping industry, providing services relied upon by shipping markets worldwide.
Value: £2,000.
The Murray’s Commercial Fishing Award
For a work in any medium depicting commercial fishing.
Value: £500 for the first prize and £100 for the second.
The Sea Pictures Gallery Award
Two prizes of £500 for a work of distinction by an RSMA member and non-member.
The Kenneth Denton Award
For a work on the theme ‘The Sea in all its Moods’, Made possible by the generosity of late member Kenneth Denton.
Value: £500.
The Charles Pears Award
For an outstanding work, in any medium by a non-member. To be judged by the RSMA Selection Committee.
Value £500.
Robert Abraham Memorial Prize
For the best oil painting by a full member of the RSMA at the bequest of the late member Lorraine Abraham. The annual award is dedicated to her husband Robert.
Value: £500.
The RSMA Award for the Best Small Painting
For a work in any medium measuring no more than 30 cm (12”) along its longest length (excluding frame). Made possible by the generosity of a member.
Value: £300.
The RSMA New Generation Award
Awarded by the Society, the successful artist will receive £250. Open to all artists aged 35 or under at the close of submissions.
The Winsor and Newton Oil Prize
For a notable oil painting.
Value: £250 worth of Winsor & Newton materials to be chosen by the winner.
The
Topbond Marine Award
For works depicting marine engineering or construction activities in harbours, estuaries or marine waters within the UK.
Value: £250.
The Marine Quarterly “Sea from Seaward” Prize
For a painting of a boat or ship as seen from the seaward that demonstrates individuality of technique, viewpoint and interpretation. The winning work may be featured as the cover image on a future issue of the publication.
Value: £100.
The Classic Boat Prize
The winner will receive a year’s subscription to Classic Boat and a profile feature in Classic Boat Magazine.
The Artist Magazine Award
For the most deserving work, as judged by the magazine. The winner will be interviewed for a feature in The Artist magazine, print and digital edition.
Value: Feature article in The Artist magazine.
Jenny Aitken RSMA On the Edge of the World
Winner of Kenneth Denton Award 2024
Tactile sensation, direct communication with pure pigment, freedom of applying it on surface straight away, that’s what I love about pastel. There’s something very intimate about it, very personal. No mediums in between, just you and pastels…
I paint seascapes and landscapes of the UK, focusing on closeups. I think it’s a reflection of my personal wish to be at those beautiful places, and with every mark making I can experience the feeling of being there again and again. Maybe that’s the reason why I do series. In my works I try to create the illusion of presence and deep unity with nature.
BAE
Shipbuilding is an exacting discipline, and success depends entirely on the team spirit and experience of the people doing the work. This picture captures the essence of our Govan yard, and many others like it, where the collective is still so much to the fore today. The workforce are rushing home at the end of the day, job done. Friendships forged in the squad continue after the shift.
We have described our work as a “Great Endeavour” and Tony has captured this spirit of shared labour, to build a noble object, in a harsh, unforgiving environment where steel is ever present, where the workforce are sustained by their friendships and a sense of shared achievement. This picture resonates for me in all these dimensions and is a most deserving winner in a strong field.
Sir Simon Lister, Managing Director, Naval Ships
Tony Williams RSMA Leaving the Amber Pacific
Systems Naval Ships Award 2024
Tanya Avchinnikova PS Surface 29. Cornwall
Jiaxuan
Emotion is the essential thing in my work. It is an intense drive that motivates me to search for, understand and express humanity. Most of my works are inspired by my everyday experience which may often be little trifles or incidents, but a fleeting impression from life can develop into a deep emotion.
Once again it has been such a privilege to view and study the candidates for the award. All of the pictures were worthy entries, with a wonderful range of both subject matter and materials employed. Reaching my decision was not easy! But I chose ‘Scillonian III, The End of The Voyage’ by Geoffrey Huband. As chairman of the Baltic Exchange Council and a career maritime man, I was drawn to the working nature of the composition and its originality. The unusual night scene provides excellent contrasts between the darkness and the numerous lights on the ship and ashore. The ship is alongside, but there is an expectant air from the people on the dock. The words ‘the end of the voyage’ have a poignant quality as this historic Royal Mail Ship nears the end of her trading life.
Lord Jeffrey Mountevans, Chairman of Baltic Exchange
Yi Castle on a Cloud
Winner of Charles Pears Award 2024
Geoffrey Huband RSMA Scillonian III, The End of The Voyage
The Baltic Exchange Award 2024
The RSMA features works by non-members – inspired by the sea
Once again, we are delighted by the overall quality of work submitted by non-members. The selection process as always requires concentrated effort by members of our selection committee.
We always realise that our judgements will bring forth both joy, but also disappointment. Decisions on the work entered are not taken lightly.
This year we have viewed work from both national and international artists, confirming that the sea and ships are continued sources of influence for many of these pictures.
The selection committee were especially impressed by the number of entries by younger artists this year.
Miae Kim Whale Jars Ceramic 32 x 16 x 16 cm £1,200
Harsh Agrawal RI Boats at Rest Watercolour 33 x 50 cm £1,250
Anjana Cawdell Hawksbill Turtle Watercolour 27 x 36 cm £650
Lizzie Black Through the Gaps, Mousehole Oil 25 x 30 cm £680
Morgan Penn And now the Shipping Forecast Oil on linen 130 x 130 cm £80,000
Joshua Miles Choppy Day
Reduction linocut 56 x 38 cm £750
Richard Swann Shrouded Oil 24 x 30 cm £600
Etching with aquatint 12 x 29 cm
Mel Carson Soft Coral Duo Porcelain 22 x 20 cm £675
Claire Henley The Special Hawaiian Shorts Mixed media 50 x 50 cm £895
Alison Holt Coastal Walk Freemotion embroidery on painted silk 18 x 13 cm £895
Austin Cole RBA North Pembrokeshire nr St Davids
£325
Caroline Sayer Metamorphosis at the Ocean Floor Stoneware clay with oxides and glazes 20 x 24 x 34 cm £725
Fiona Wallin Polperro Silkscreen print 24 x 20 cm £325
Mark Taylor Noon, Bridlington Harbour Pastel 16 x 14 cm £695
Ann Flynn View from Hawk Cliff, Killiney Oil 80 x 80 cm £2,000
Textile
Jacque Wakely Maldon Regatta Day
embroidery 30 x 18 cm £650
Lesley Mckenzie Hunting Grounds
Ceramic on wood base 25 x 20 x 30 cm £695
Geoffrey Wynne RI Naoussa Paros Watercolour 32 x 46 cm £950
Ieuan Edwards Lobster Reduction linocut print 56 x 76 cm £595
Works by Members
Colin Allbrook Cruise Ship, Kefalonia Oil 31 x 41 cm £895
Tony Allain Low Tide, Staithes Soft pastel 50 x 66 cm £2,800
Jenny Aitken Harwich Harbour at Dusk Oil 20 x 41 cm £845
David Allen Shipyard on the Venetian Lagoon Oil 76 x 56 cm £1,500
Peter Barker On the Hard, Brancaster Staithe Oil 43 x 58 cm £2,650
James Bartholomew Pacific Breaker
Watercolour and pastel 48 x 66 cm £1,750
Wendy Borello Splendiferous Sea Life
Watercolour 24 x 38 cm £650
Robert Brindley Dappled Light, Corfu Old Harbour Oil on board 20 x 25 cm £750
Gareth Brown Harbour Reflections V Oil 94 x 140 cm £7,000
Mark Buck Blue Day, Porthmadog Harbour Watercolour 49 x 49 cm £820
Alistair Butt Passing South Stack Lighthouse, Anglesey Oil 30 x 41 cm £975
Trevor Chamberlain Morning Light, Southwold Seafront Oil 34 x 44 cm £2,450
Brian Collins Atlantic Roller Oil 35 x 65 cm £795
Simon Conolly Herring Girls, Sisters in Arms Ceramic figures on oak 20 x 86 x 30 cm £2,400
David Curtis Harbourside Moorings, St Abbs Oil 30 x 40 cm £1,850
Peter Cronin A Helping Hand Watercolour 29 x 39 cm £750
Richard Dack A Moment in Time, Ebb Tide
Oil 60 x 30 cm £950
Madeleine Davenport Coming in at Dawn, Pittenweem
Watercolour 28 x 28 cm £750
Neil Faulkner Gull Waterclour 30 x 51 cm £1,500
Roger Dellar Bottom of the Tide West Bay Oil 39 x 39 cm £1,200
Nick Grove High Street, Wells-Next-The-Sea Oil on canvas 45 x 61 cm £2,750
Tim Hall Crew Discussion, Rose of Argyll, Mousehole Oil on canvas 82 x 102 cm £15,000
Benjamin Hope Brighton Memory Oil on panel 31 x 36 cm £950
David Howell Fog Coming In, Baccino di San Marco Oil on board 31 x 41 cm £2,200
Richard Horner Gull's View Rinsey Oil on canvas 61 x 46 cm £1,100
Geoffrey Huband Scillonian III, The End of The Voyage Oil on canvas 44 x 61 cm £2,950
Geoff Hunt His new flagship: King George III visits HMS Victory, 25 April 1778
Robert King Solent, Sun after Rain Oil 50 x 76 cm £4,000
Moira Huntly Engine Room 2, RFA Argus
Acrylic 52 x 61 cm £2,850
Raymond Leech Promenade and Pier Stroll, Southwold Oil 18 x 36 cm £825
Tom Marsh Bailey Island, Maine Oil on board 20 x 20 cm £600
Jamie Medlin Long Shadows - Penryn River Oil on canvas 46 x 46 cm £14,500
John Lines Morning Searcher Oil 46 x 40 cm
£1,650
Srirangam Mohankumar Sailing Home Watercolour 34 x 47 cm £1,400
J F Morgan Preparing to Shoot the Trawl - MT Arctic Corsair - National Historic Ship
x 76 cm
Patsy Moore Saving Lives - Celebration of RNLI Oil on canvas 35 x 45 cm £950
Mark Myers The "Medusa", 32 guns, sailing from the Downs, August 1801
Watercolour 37 x 55 cm £2,550
Greg Ramsden Island Street Boatyard, Ordered Chaos Oil on linen 42 x 52 cm £1,650
Benjamin Mowll Afternoon Sail Oil 25 x 30 cm £1,450
Duncan Palmar Spring Morning, River Yealm Oil on board 41 x 102 cm £2,750
Barry Peckham Rounding the Needles Oil 25 x 50 cm £1,250
Alan Runagall Morning Light, Leigh Creek Watercolour 18 x 27 cm £685
Keith Richens Stair Hole Lulworth Oil 43 x 48 cm £2,995
Matthew Phinn 'Tide's Out!', Runswick Bay Watercolour on paper 42 x 17 cm £750
Gillian Roberts The Admiral Blake under Construction Oil 40 x 51 cm £1,100
Michael Salt Whitby Low Tide Oil 60 x 50 cm £1,800
Carolyn Simpson Whale Soapstone 32 x 34 x 15 cm £1,500
John Scott Martin Morning at the Barge Match Oil on canvas 60 x 84 cm £3,500
John Stillman Evening on the Solent Oil on board 20 x 41 cm £975
Christopher Slater Pools of Light in the Boat Shed Oil 40 x 50 cm
£985
Nicholas St John Rosse Stepping into Bright Water Oil 61 x 61 cm £3,000
Haidee-Jo Summers To the Beach Oil 30 x 30 cm £1,595
Karl Terry The Old Smack Heybridge Oil on board 30 x 30 cm £960
Martin Swan Idling Round the Needles Oil 40 x 80 cm £2,000
Andrzej Szymczyk
Young Longfin Batfish
Bronze 68 x 37 x 16 cm £7,000
Peter Wileman From Studland Towards Poole Oil 40 x 40 cm £2,200
Deborah Walker Darkly, Deeply, Beautifully Blue Watercolour 39 x 93 cm £2,500
David Thomas Bridlington Quay Watercolour 43 x 57 cm £1,300
The works for sale in the RSMA Annual Exhibition are available to buy through the Own Art scheme. Own Art interest free loans make it easy and affordable to buy original, high quality contemporary art and craft.
Representative 0% APR. Subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Paul Wright H.M.S Chatham Oil 61 x 91 cm £8,500
Tony Williams In Defence of the Narrows Oil 47 x 62 cm £2,800
Bert Wright Putney Sailing Club Watercolour 48 x 59 cm £700
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Royal Society of Marine Artists
Members
Jenny Aitken Tel: 07776 157965
Tony Allain PS Tel: 07927 552695
Colin Allbrook RI Tel: 01769 560041
David Allen Tel: 01423 879484
Peter Barker Tel: 01780 720427
James Bartholomew Tel: 01257 462333
Wendy Borello Tel: 00267 3161821
Robert Brindley Tel: 01228 597005
Gareth Brown Tel: 01945 774312
Alistair Butt Tel: 01623 555650
Brian Collins Tel: 020 8421 5675
Simon Conolly Tel: 01746 712943
Peter Cronin Tel: 01446 796652
David Curtis FROI Tel: 01302 719624
Richard Dack Tel: 01502 711017
Patrick Donovan Tel: 01174 622379
Neil Faulkner Tel: 01782 643930
Nick Grove Tel: 07951 249559
Tim Hall Tel: 01736 350531
Benjamin Hope NEAC PS ROI RP Tel: 020 7930 6844
Richard Horner Tel: 01736 761168
David Howell Tel: 01347 889576
Geoffrey Huband Tel: 01736 711832
Geoff Hunt Tel: 020 8543 3787
Raymond Leech Tel: 01502 582424
John Lines Tel: 01788 578522
Brian Mitchell Tel: 01736 797679
Benjamin Mowll ROI Tel: 07803 172020
Mark Myers FASMA Tel: 01288 331353
Duncan Palmar Tel: 07484 879565
Barry Peckham ROI Tel: 02380 292860
Matthew Phinn RI Tel: 07799 847215
Keith Richens Tel: 01892 67 6737
Gillian Roberts Tel: 01937 583102
Michael Salt Tel: 01384 375652
John Scott Martin RBA Tel: 07831 495668
Carolyn Simpson Tel: 07557 552993
Elizabeth Smith Tel: 01275 866396
Nicholas St John Rosse Tel: 01840 770450
John Stillman Tel: 02083 952935
Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI Tel: 07757 276695
Martin Swan Tel: 01983 530894
Dennis Syrett RBA PPROI Tel: 01844 347596
Andrzej Szymczyk Tel: 07450 918788
Karl Terry Tel: 07958 495787
David Thomas Tel: 01482 845176
Deborah Walker RI Tel: 01889 504102
Peter Wileman FROI Tel: 01327 353717
Tony Williams Tel: 01769 581177
Paul Wright Tel: 01428 653334
Rowena Wright Tel: 01983 246493
Associate Members
Frances Bell ROI RP Tel: 020 7930 6844
Mark Buck Tel: 07973 383157
Madeleine Davenport Tel: 01764 670267
Roger Dellar PS RI ROI Tel: 01428 604504
Tom Marsh AROI Tel: 07738 592710
Jamie Medlin Tel: 07967 383425
Srirangam Mohankumar Tel: 07880 736290
Patsy Moore Tel: 01798 861860
Greg Ramsden Tel: 07733 225662
Christopher Slater Tel: 07983 285209
Life Members
Frederick Beckett Hon RBA Hon RI FROI Tel: 01494 764748
Trevor Chamberlain FROI Tel: 01992 586195
Margaret Heath Tel: 01323 412070
Moira Huntly PPPS RI Tel: 01386 853607
Robert King RI Tel: 02380 243017
J F Morgan Tel: 01507 441500
Sonia Robinson Tel: 01736 731421
Alan Runagall Tel: 01268 770414
Bert Wright Tel: 020 8567 7119
In Memoriam
We are sorry to report the passing of Roy Cross RSMA (1924–2024) and Kenneth Denton RSMA (1932–2024)
Acknowledgements
Officers/Trustees
President: John Scott Martin RBA PPRBSA FRSA
Vice President: Geoffrey Huband
Hon. Secretary: Tony Williams
Hon Treasurer: Gareth Brown
Council
Tony Allain
David Curtis FROI
Geoff Hunt
Mark Myers FASMA
Duncan Palmar
Carolyn Simpson
Karl Terry
FBA Trustee: Carolyn Simpson
AGBI Steward: Richard Horner
Archivist: Robert Brindley
Demonstrations and Events: Duncan Palmar
Website: Alistair Butt
Social Media: Karl Terry
Selection & Hanging Committees
Jenny Aitken
Colin Allbrook RI
Peter Barker
David Curtis ROI
Nick Grove
Mark Myers FASMA
Carolyn Simpson
John Stillman
Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI
Officers are ex-officio members of all committees
Honorary Members
Terence Brack, J G Davis CBE
Artists’ General Benevolent Institution
For over 200 years the AGBI has provided assistance to professional artists and their dependants in times of need. Funds are urgently needed for the continuation of this work.
Office of the Institution: 15 Churton Street, Pimlico, London
SW1V 2LY
www.agbi.org.uk Tel: 020 7734 1193
Registered Charity No. 212667
