I do like to paint fairly vibrant landscapes and seascapes and normally they are watercolours on 300gsm Rough Arches Paper. The first painting is on Arches Hot Pressed 300gsm paper which leads itself to this softer wash type painting.

However this post is just a little different and features Thames Barges, and as an update now includes a  SHORTS Sunderland Flying Boat!

I have included this new painting of Rochester in Kent showing some barges and the scene as it may have been the late 1930’s when the Shorts Sunderland Flying boats were designed and built by the River Medway at Rochester. They were designed in the 1930s and first flew in 1937. Based on the Shorts S23 Empire flying boats, the Flagship of Imperial Airways it was re-engineered for military use, and was used extensively in the Second World War.  777 were produced in the years 1937 to 1946.

The next painting of Thames Barges is titled is “Waiting for the Tide” and is 16 inches by 12.

                                                    Waiting for the Tide.   A watercolour.

Barge passing Upnor Castle in Kent

This 3rd painting is hot off the press having been painted recently too! It shows a Thames barge passing by Upnor Castle on the River Medway, not too far from my studio. Again painted on Hot Pressed paper and 16 inches by 12.

The fourth painting is much more in my normal style and is of Barge at Hollowshore, here in Kent in the UK. It was painted a couple of years ago. It is on Rough 300gsm Arches paper and is 14 inches by 10.

                                              A Thames Barge at Hollowshore in Kent.

This  painting is of Faversham creek where barges were once seen in their dozens.

                                                                                             Barges at Faversham

The last  painting was painted many years ago and is on a medium smooth paper and is about 18 inches by 10.

I don’t think I would paint it like this today (busy sky, busy boats and busy sea) but again it is Thames Barges, this time racing in the Thames Estuary.

                                                                           The Barge Race.

I hope you like this post and its updates. Thames barges are always a wonderful sight to see around our coast. Alas Sunderland flying boats are now not seen flying but one I believ is in amuseum in Florida.

Happy Travelling

Brian