OLD FATHER THAMES

This week sees the first of 31 journeys and how apt that the first journey will be on the Thames Sailing Barge the "The thistle".  The kick off event in February took place at the Thistle Gallery in Glasgow's West End due to the tremendous support of its owner Carol Dunbar. The Thistle is the only Thames barge built in Scotland on the Clyde at Port Glasgow in 1895. I feel particularly feel privileged to be sailing on here first voyage of her 120th year.

This journey is particularly special since the Sir Andrew Motion, Poet laureate until 2009 has agreed to contribute to the Shipping Forecast project with this beautiful verse.

What bending sea-grass knows

and the herring gull shouts aloud

is the same word the wind blows

and the sunlight dissolving cloud.

© Andrew Motion.

I am due to travel down to London tomorrow night via Glasgow and with the kind support of First Group (Essex) and National Express I will hope to be in the atmospheric port of Maldon Thursday afternoon. With only 3 of us on board we are due to sail on the 0430 tide to Ipswich Port.

I due to leave London for Glasgow on Friday evening, so with all everything running smoothly I hope to back on the Ayrshire coast early Saturday morning. After 3 nights of not sleeping in a bed I suspect I will be ready for a lie down in my own bed.

Like all journeys the excitement is tinged a little with the apprehension of the unknown, but this is the first of many journeys and it will be good to be on board a boat after so many years on Terra firma.

With sketch book, pencils, camera I look forward to posting the first of many visual records of this first of many adventures around the Shipping Forecast.

Signing off with lots of pictures to come.

Ian

Troon, Ayrshire coast. Scotland.

A few powerful words.. moves a pace

Since the kick off event at the Thistle I am pleased to announce we raised a grand total of £1023 for Macmillan Cancer Support which is an amazing start to what is going to be something I suspect as the my predecessor in the Shipping Forecast art world Peter Collier said to be that its likely to take over your life.

An integral part of the project is the contribution of writers and poets.  I am pleased to announce the first 4 contributors to part of the project I would like to call "A FEW POWERFUL WORDS."

The list of so far in no particular order is;

SIMON ARMITAGE CBE -  has allowed me to quote a verse from the poem "The stone beach" under licence.

LIZ LOCHHEAD - Scotland's Makar ( National Poet )

DON PATERSON -  Leading Scottish Poet and academic.

PETER COYLE - Musician and Lyricist

I recently met up with Karen Mathie and Eloise Armstrong from Macmillan Glasgow and Ayrshire to discuss some of the legal/contractual stuff and the general plans for this year and next.  

With 31 areas to travel to travel to and cross I have extended the the lifetime of the project at least to the end of 2016.

I am currently making a nuisance of myself organising the logistics of the first fully organised activity on board the Sailing barge the Thistle which will sail from Maldon in Essex to Ipswich in late April. The next journey currently in the planning stage is a journey to Clew Bay in Co. Mayo Ireland.

The Thistle on her maiden voyage on the Clyde in 1895.  The journey begins upon this beautiful vessel on her journey to the port of Ipswich on April 25th.

More info coming soon....

Ian 

Troon.

South Ayrshire coast March 2015

A postcard to the Thistle

To open the project I proposed the idea of an art event at the newly opened Thistle Gallery in Glasgow's West End which was accepted and wholeheartedly supported by the owner Carol Dunbar.
The premise of the event was to paint 31 postcard size pieces in acrylic and soft pastel in a variety of styles and colours, from abstract to fairly representational.

Each piece selling at the very accessible price of £30 with £18 going to Macmillan Cancer Support.

The after the event display of the postcard pieces 

I have developed and published a flcikr site to display online those pieces available after the days event.

CLICK HERE for images of remaining postcard pieces.

To buy one of these remaining Wee Gems you can contact Carol at the gallery on  Tel 0141 334 3444 email EMAIL THE THISTLE   

The whys and wherefores

This new journey started started as a spark of an idea many years ago prior to me seriously taking up a brush and palette knife as an artist.
The strange fascination of the poetry of the Met Office shipping forecast started in childhood and a small transistor radio hidden my pillow.  The mysteries of highs and lows, the ever increasing Beaufort scale numbers from flat calm to might storms has continued lingered in my subconscious.
Above  all the strange mysterious names such North Utsire and German Bight hint and far off places of the unknown.

Why the Shipping Forecast as a vehicle to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support?  My involvement started with a previous project the "Wee Ones" a journey of the imagination around the coast of Britain.  During this year long project I went on my own journey of discovery and the sharing of stories, good and some times untimely tragic of how cancer affects us all and how its critical that no one should face this alone. I have always felt that the Artist's job was share their gift and for me this has many facets beyond painting.

Life is difficult enough at times and why should anyone face troubles alone.

What is the project about?  The shipping forecast has been an inspiration to poets, painters, photographers, but I wanted to do something a little different. I wish to record the 31 areas of the forecast as a journey on the sea.  I will travel into every Sea area by boat and ship, public and private, large and small as record and experience the essence of why for decades this served as a tool for sea goers to minimise the dangers of the open sea.

I intend to paint 31 24 x24 inch oil paintings one for each of the 31 areas sell them to raise funds for Macmillan. Each painting will retail at £500 of which 60% will be donated to the charity.