Eastgate House Rochester and Sir Peter Buck

The Tudor Mansion Eastgate House in Rochester Kent has just undergone a major restoration. I was commissioned to produce a series of illustrations which will help tell the story of the house.

The final part of my involvement was to paint a simulated portrait of the original owner of the house. No known image of Sir Peter Buck exists and it has been a fascinating journey of discovery researching the "Sumptuary Laws" and visual language of late Tudor portraiture.

Sir Peter Buck in 1603

View from Eastgate House during the Dutch Raid 1667

View From Eastgate House in 1591

Eastgate House in 1591

The Dutch Raid on the River Medway 1667

2017 is the 350 Anniversary of the Dutch sailing up the River Medway in Kent (UK) and attacking Charles II's fleet.

The Guildhall Museum Rochester, together with the Historic Dockyard Chatham will be commemorating the raid with a series of events from 8 June to 17 June.

I was commissioned to illustrate the raid which took place in 1667, the illustrations will feature in the event at the Guildhall and become part of a permanent exhibition of the raid at Upnor Castle.

Crossing the Chain

Capture of the Royal Charles

The Dutch arrive at Upnor

The Battle on the River

Fireships

 

 

 

Spragge's Battery

New Marine Art

After an extended period of commercial illustration work I have managed to slip in a couple of pieces of my own.

The first is a study of a topsail schooner off the Yorkshire east coast and the second a foreshortened study of Tower Bridge in London which will eventually be reinterpreted into a larger painting. This was intended to be a try out for texture and colour values.

Other than a slight warming up of the colour values of the bridge I am happy with the layout.

Topsail Schooner off Flamborough Head

Tower Bridge Afternoon

Marine Artwork

I have a few marine themed exhibitions this year and I need to generate a few pieces to ensure I can fill the space!

Below are my latest examples, a tranquil bit of the River Rance at Dinan in Brittany and a moody sunset with a schooner.

Moorings at Dinan Brittany

Homeward Bound

The Chapel, Old Royal Naval College Greenwich

I have always admired artists who paint night scenes, a particularly difficult exercise since the human eye uses a different mechanism by night. The best exponent of the "Nocturn" I have come across is the Yorkshireman John Atkinson Grimshaw, a mid Victorian painter who loved to simulate moonlit city street scenes.

As a member of the Old Royal Naval College Art Club I visit Greenwich often so the fantastic Wren architecture seemed an obvious subject choice.

The Chapel, Old Royal Naval College Greenwich

Ahead of the pack

In an effort to push on my maritime work I have produced another in 'heavy sea' style. My schooner painting of last year proved popular which has encouraged me to revisited the American schooner for the latest piece.

The two thirds sea to one third ship composition was inspired by the superb American marine artist Chris Blossom, his work is stunning, well worth a look, it has encouraged me to be more adventurous in subject and composition.

Hope you like it!!

Ahead of the Pack

Tower Bridge, Winter Morning

The first Tower Bridge painting I exhibited at the Alexander Miles Gallery during the National Maritime Museum Annual show sold. The gallery is close to Tower Bridge, so it was suggested that another study of the bridge might be in order.

I never revisit the same subject with the intention of producing a "Clone" so it was necessary to find another location close to but not the same spot as used previously. I was also keen to explore the bright reflected light and deep shadow which I had used in the first painting but in a slightly tighter and controlled manner.

Below are the various stages from initial sketch with watercolour pencils through to the completed work.

Coloured pencil sketch

Initial composition quickly drawn in with a brush

Tonal values and main featured blocked in

Final Work