The Albatros
One of my more unusual commissions, I was asked to paint a 'mural' on the ceiling in the hold of a Dutch Ship.
Moored at Wells-next-the-Sea, The Albatros is a commercial ship with a cafe/bar in its hold, where live music & Dutch pancakes are regularly enjoyed.
The design features a decorative honeysuckle vine weaving around the wooden ceiling supports, with a blue sky behind, as if looking up through a trellis in a garden. Sea birds flying overhead add interest & tie in the nautical theme.
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A View Of The Hold
I designed & cut stencils for the honeysuckle so that they could be repeated & reversed to gradually build up the vine. The fiery-ochres & emerald greens I chose tie in with the existing colours of the woodwork, upholstery & walls.
Looking Above The Bar
My design is a subtle nod in the direction of William Morris, known for his ornate flora & fauna interior designs in late 19thC Britain. This 'Arts & Crafts Movement' would have been happening around the time the ship was built.
Flying Albatross
To honour the ship, I painted an albatross in flight. There wouldn't have been room to paint it full-size though as their wings can span over 11 feet!
Corner 1
The vine snakes along the woodwork, breaking up the expanse of
blue sky & softening the hard corners of the room.
blue sky & softening the hard corners of the room.
Black-Headed Gull
Coastal birds circle overhead adding more depth to the view above.
Corner 2
When cutting the stencil I considered the honeysuckle flower in various stages of opening to add variety & interest to the design.
Side Section
Here, the vine curls around the light fittings & softening the edges
of the space.
of the space.