MarinePaintings.art

SUBJECTS

"A master of depicting many types and eras of shipping" (MarineArtists gallery)

I specialise in carefully reconstructing ships from history whilst also creating depictions of cruise ships, commercial vessels, racing scenes, and private yachts.

During the 2023 Ocean Globe Race I created paintings that became part of the collections of several crew members and family including Tracy Edwards and Marco Trombetti.

I welcome private commissions on any maritime subject, and further details on how that process works can be found below.

GREGORY SMITH

MARINE PAINTINGS

Bespoke oil paintings of maritime subjects, inspired by history, sailing, and the marine environment.

Each picture is crafted through careful research and attention to precise detail.

My work has been exhibited at the Mall Galleries in central London, including at five shows of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. I have paintings represented by MarineArtists gallery, and am a member of the Southampton Art Society.

AWARDS

- Winner of the Royal Society of Marine Artists' New Generation Award.

- Winner of the ArtMarine prize in the 'Afloat or Ashore' historic ships competition.

- Multiple award winner in computer generated imagery and digital matte painting, with work featured in the books:

"The Complete Guide to Photorealism for Visual Effects, Visualization and Games" by Eran Dinur.
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"Blender Artists - The most beautiful 3D creations" by Florian Benedetto.

- Art Director of award winning company Other Skies, including CorporateLiveWire's Animation & Design Innovation & Excellence Award.

COMMISSION YOUR PAINTING

Commission a unique painting of any maritime subject . Whether you're looking for a personal gift or have seen a piece in the gallery that has already sold or isn’t the right size, I can create a custom artwork tailored to your taste.

Commissioning a painting is easy and enjoyable. It starts with a discussion about the vessels you're interested in, and the practical aspects like canvas size. I can work from vessel plans, general arrangements, and photographs, and recreate a specific event as well as paint conventional ship portraits. Throughout the process, we will regularly discuss the painting’s development, and you’ll receive consistent updates to keep you informed.

Once your painting is complete, I will send you a high resolution photograph for your review and we can discuss framing options before securely shipping the picture to your home or office by courier.

I separate historical commissions from contemporary subjects since historical research and reconstruction adds to the complexity of the project. Please explore the case studies below for an in-depth look at the full process behind each type of painting.

CASE STUDIES

MAIDEN

10 x 14 inches

SKETCHES

After discussing preferred subjects and locations, I create a series of sketches to find the best viewpoint for the painting.

MASTER DRAWING

Once we determine the best option—potentially creating additional sets of sketches—I create a master drawing. This drawing will be the same size as the canvas and serves as the foundation for the painting.

PROGRESS UPDATES

The painting process typically begins with a block-in stage, which lays in the main forms and establishes the general scene. From there I steadily refine in a series of layers until the last tiny details like rigging and railings. Each layer can take a week to dry, and this is a good opportunity to share and discuss progress.

FINAL PAINTING

When I consider the picture to be complete I send over a high resolution photo, along with close up photos in the case of larger paintings. We can then review any last changes that need to be made.

VARNISHING AND FRAMING

When completely dry the picture needs to have a layer of varnish applied to protect the paint. We can then discuss options for framing if desired.

SHIPPING

Everything is then all packaged up securely and shipped over to you. I send paintings by courier, and will provide tracking information.

If you would like to discuss commissioning a painting or have any further questions, please get in touch and I'd be happy to discuss how this process would work for you.

Contemporary - 'Maiden'

Click on the image to read more about the process behind creating a painting of a contemporary subject.

TAKAO

20 x 30 inches

SKETCHES

After discussing some subject options, we decided to focus on the cruiser Takao. From there, I created a series of sketches to explore various options for viewpoint and background.

DEVELOPED CONCEPTS

Through the sketching process, we moved towards showing an anchorage scene, aiming to show a calm scene with various activities in port. That resulted in a small series of developed sketches of the ship in Truk, December 1942.

COLOUR SKETCH AND MASTER
DRAWING

For larger paintings, I create a colour sketch to illustrate the intended colours and lighting. The master drawing is the basis of the painting, and so is the same size as the canvas and a similar level of detail to the finished work. Seeing both of these together provides a clear indication of what the finished artwork will look like.

PROGRESS UPDATES

Throughout the process, I share photos of the painting as it develops, allowing you to see its evolution. Typically, paintings progress in layers, with each layer adding increasing detail. However, I may occasionally adopt an alternative approach where appropriate, such as working from the background to the foreground.

FINAL PAINTING

Once the painting is complete, I share a high-resolution image along with close-up photos of the main elements. I am happy to make adjustments or provide additional images if that would be helpful.

FRAMING

The painting will need a week or two to dry before a layer of protective varnish is applied. Once the varnish is dry, we can discuss framing. I can test different options with the framer and find the moulding that works best. Choosing the right frame can be challenging, and I’m happy to provide advice and plenty of photographs to assist you with the decision.

SHIPPING

Everything is then all packaged up securely and shipped over to you. I send paintings by courier, and will provide tracking information.

If you would like to discuss commissioning a painting or have any further questions, please get in touch and I'd be happy to discuss how this process would work for you.

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Historical - 'Takao'

Click on the image to read more about the process behind commissioning a painting of a ship from the past.

PRICING

I offer a range of standard sizes, and take custom requests where required. Professional framing can also be provided.
There are no additional charges for any change requests - commissions are a collaborative process and will evolve as we share ideas.

Size (inches)

10 x 14

12 x 16

16 x 20

18 x 24

20 x 30

24 x 30

Historical

600

1000

1750

2500

3500

4000

Contemporary
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350

585

995

1450

2100

3000

Framing (Optional)
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The cost is divided into a 40% deposit up front with the remaining 60% due on completion of the painting.
Free UK Shipping. For international shipping, additional costs may apply based on your location, and some countries may impose customs taxes at the border.

These prices have been set by art experts, and are highly competitive compared with other marine painters working in this style. Each commission is a personal service to create unique and highly detailed oil paintings, using the highest quality hand-made brushes and oil paint, and created on fine linen canvas.

CONTACT

Gallery

Historical Subjects

Ocean Village Field Sketches

Southampton

Ocean Globe Race

Commissions