HMS Rhododendron (A Flower Class Corvette) has family associations for me also. Coincidentally during research for the painting I was contacted by relatives of one of her former Captains.
The "Flowers" were the largest class of warship ever built for the Royal Navy (270 built). Very small for an ocean going warship, they rolled and pitched violently, making even veteran sailors violently seasick! They made a major contribution to winning the Battle of the Atlantic.
Below are a few selected stages of the development and then the final painting.
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| Initial composition, the corvette in her natural environment. |
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| Sketch for client approval |
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| Main elements blocked in with underpainting |
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| Completed work, HMS Rhododendron 1944-45 |
