The exhibition is open until Sunday 13th February. It has a wonderful array of talented works with views up and down the River Thames and its furthermost estuarial environs.
The slogan the group is operating under currently is: ‘A Changing View’ which is something right up my street with what I have been writing about – my last book, Rochester to Richmond, a Thames Estuary Sailor’s View, especially.
One of the things I did notice was that a number of the paintings are completed works from pieces clearly began some years before. There was one looking towards Maldon with the big old smack, Telegraph along the shore in the foreground. She was moved near to Heybridge Basin nearly a decade ago!
That said, the quality was fantastic.
The Downs Road Boatyard is always a place of wonder. The workmanship of the yard is brilliant and it is fascinating to watch a crafstman at work, if given a chance.
Knowing the yard owner helps, but always ask!
I love it ‘up river’ along the banks of the Thames above the greater metropolis. A serenity and simplicity of a natural river can be seen in many places.
Below is a yard on Eel Pie Island.
The Thistle is now generally moored in Lower Halstow Dock and is part of the joint venture with the Edith May – see the Tiller & Wheel web site.
Below is a picture I would happily hang on the wall. Space however is not available unless a picture is dispensed with…
Below is another I liked…
It is a familiar scene in a loved anchorage (mooring) spot. The island – Packing Marsh – is under threat from the sea though. Yet again thousands of cubic metres of sand and shingle have been pumped onto its south-eastern end, also Cobb Marsh to the east.
Tidal rise is eating away at both. If they go, the anchorage would change drastically, being open to strong easterlies from which great protection is still given.
Below is a small piece of Benfleet Creek. The boat, however, hasn’t been there for years!
These moorings sit just upstream of Erith Yacht Club and access is from a different gate, so is, I would say, incorrectly titled!
The structures so reminded me in a great rustic way to those of my own moorings, which, I hasten to add are in far better condition!
There now follows a run of paintings – all water colours – by Alan Runagall, a fellow resident of Hadleigh (Essex)
Above is a view, I believe, looking up the River Crouch, from the quay at North Fambridge, with the old wildfowlers cottage on the edge of the saltings.
A familiar view above…
Love poking around the yard here.
Ah, Tollesbury. Great place to drop into for a couple of days, with a butcher, baker and stores in the village.
Just below the railway bridge, I believe…
Two of the artists said to me that a sunset is the most difficult thing to paint. A photograph can though do it justice. The picture is from the shore at Queenborough. Whimbrel is to the right hand side, with dinghy astern.
Ah, here is one the mate lusted after. She deliberately left her credit card at home – I offered, but she dragged me out!
Yes, it was good.
You have just a few days to get there and savour the works…
Thank you, Wapping Group, for the invitation.