Original artwork description:

One of my traditional oil paintings that depicts my home coastline, my former studio is just showing on a distant cliff top, depicting a manual launching of the Sidmouth lifeboat 'Rimmington'. Carefully researched as this was quite a dramatic event, a southerly gale had been blowing from 27 December and on New Year's Eve the lifeboat successfully rescued the crew of 11 from the Bordeaux brigantine 'Emmeline'. With the lifeboat significantly overloaded and with the severity of the sea conditions, the wind had also veered round to the west during the rescue it was decided to land at Beer, a much more sheltered nearby fishing village. The lifeboat didn't return to Sidmouth until 1st January 1873.

This is my most recent painting of the Sidmouth lifeboats. There were two notable rescues in 1872 that were just a few months apart and now I've painted both. This lifeboat, 'Rimmington', was replaced in 1885 with the 'William and Frances' (another lifeboat with only oars) which continued to serve Sidmouth until the service was withdrawn by the RLNI in 1912. The RLNI cited lack of use. Nearly half a century after that a rescue service at Sidmouth, independent of the RLNI, was introduced.

This painting is offered for sale ready to hang in a bespoke hand finished frame. Should you prefer to purchase without the frame (there would be a reduction in the price) please message me.

Materials used:

professional quality oils on linen canvas over a hardwood stretcher

Tags:

#ocean #beach scene #boats #marine #dramatic #stormy sea #devon #victorian #ships #sailing ship #stormy weather #rough seas #sidmouth #lifeboat rescue #rnla