Tim Thompson Becalmed Off Castle Court Martime Sailboat Watercolor Painting

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Vintage Timothy Thompson (British, b.1951) nautical watercolor painting titled ""Becalmed Off Castle Court"". Features multiple boats / sailboats / Galleon … Read more Vintage Timothy Thompson (British, b.1951) nautical watercolor painting titled ""Becalmed Off Castle Court"". Features multiple boats / sailboats / Galleon ships near port. Purchased at the Martime Gallery at Mystic Seaport, Connecticut.

Provenance:
Estate of J. Frederic Gagel, owner of multiple Thoroughbred race horses that competed in the Narragansett Special and Kentucky Derby. Their family heritage was strongly intertwined with the military having officers in battles dating back to the American Revolution.

Born in Hull, England, in 1951 and known for marine battle scenes and sailing ship paintings, Tim Thompson spent his childhood living on the tiny Channel Island of Herm. It was while there, living on the water that he developed a deep love and respect for the sea. It also was the beginning of his love for painting. Thompson remembers creating his first image when he was 6 years old - a watercolor of the majestic ship, Queen Mary.

Although Thompson pursued a career in horticulture for a brief time, he never strayed far from his paint brush and pallet. At age 27 he left his job at the Parks Department in England and began painting full time. This decision proved to be a positive step for him.

Thompson married in 1973 and moved to Southern England, where he lives with his wife Sharon in Plymouth. He has two daughters, Holly and Gemma, both of whom paint. It is not surprising that his paintings focus on marine settings, particularly battle scenes and boats that span the centuries from fighting ships of Drake and Nelson's eras to the epic journeys of clipper ships.

In 1982 Thompson met media mogul and sailing enthusiast, Ted Turner at a regatta in Cowes, England. Turner commissioned him to paint numerous sailing boats, which brought growing popularity and recognition.

In 1983, Thompson produced a collection of paintings, depicting every America's Cup ""Winning Moment"". The Prince of Wales and Princess Diana requested that he and his collection appear at the British America's Cup Ball at the Dorchester Hotel.

He then co-authored three books, The Paintings of the America's Cup, The Story of Yachting and The Gold Medal Rescues of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He was the official artist for America 3, the winning yacht of the 1992 America's Cup. He was also appointed official artist to the Team New Zealand defense in 2000.

Thompson creates his ship and yacht portraits from ship plans, sketches and photographs, since it is impossible to capture enough detail by sketching during a yacht race. Photographs are also useful to get accurate positioning of an incident. Color and movement are also are vital components in a painting and light, air, and particles in suspension play a part. They can give the water a translucent or opaque appearance and can create a more atmospheric painting.

Tim Thompson has exhibited his work throughout the United States and worldwide including in London, Paris, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the Vasa museum in Sweden, Monaco, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. See less