Bespoke Maritime Art
Gallery · Commissions · Corporate · Models
A framed oil painting hanging above a stone fireplace in a room with olive green paneled walls. The painting depicts Francis Drake's historical sailing ship Golden Hinde navigating choppy, textured blue waters, with the green coastal mountain of Ternate and a cloudy blue sky in the background.
Historic Shipping

From Age of Sail ships of the line to 20th-century naval power. Archival research meets traditional oils, capturing the defining vessels of maritime history for the private collector.

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A large framed oil painting illuminated by a picture light in a modern corporate boardroom with dark blue walls. The artwork features a realistic detailed depiction of a large white and blue roro ferry sailing beneath the Purfleet bridge, captured in warm, golden sunlight.
Corporate & Naval

Naming ceremonies, corporate retirements, fleet milestones — prestigious commercial assets for occasions that demand more than a photograph.

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"A master of depicting many types and eras of shipping"
Marine Artists Gallery
A framed oil painting mounted above a beige sofa and flanked by wooden bookshelves in a nautical-themed room. The painting shows the famous sailing boat Maiden racing under a dynamic, cloud-filled sky, with smaller boats visible in the distance
Yachts & Sailing

The yacht you sail today, or a vessel from your family's past. A deeply personal maritime history, rendered in traditional oils to become a lasting heirloom.

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Selected Works

Browse by Category Commission a Painting
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Fig I. Admiralty Draught

Private Commissions

An 18th-century frigate cutting through the swell, a captain's final command to mark their retirement, or the yacht you sail today.

Whatever the subject, a commission is an opportunity to have that scene made real — whether for your own wall, or as a lasting gift.

An oil painting of HMB Endeavour navigating through deep blue, choppy ocean waters beneath a soft, cloudy sky.
Fig II. The Completed Work

Find Your Subject

Each category below has its own dedicated page with a tailored gallery, process guide, and FAQ. Select the one that suits you best, or keep scrolling if your subject is something different.

Detail from an oil painting of a historic sailing warship

Historic Ships

Age of Sail, warships, ocean liners, and Age of Exploration vessels. Researched from primary sources.
Detail from an oil painting of a sailing yacht at sea

Yachting

Sailing yachts, motor yachts, superyachts, and racing boats. Painted from your photographs or vessel plans.
Detail from an oil painting of a commercial vessel at sea

Commercial Shipping

Cargo ships, ferries, cruise liners, and working vessels. For owners, crew, and collectors.
Framed oil painting of a vessel displayed in a corporate boardroom

Corporate

Vessel portraits with full reproduction rights. Naming ceremonies, handovers, and boardroom display.
Detail from an oil painting of a historic aircraft in flight

Aviation

Warbirds, flying boats, airliners. For pilots, squadrons, and enthusiasts.
Detail from an oil painting of Southampton waterfront

Southampton

Cruise ships, marinas, waterfront scenes, and the Solent. Painted on site by a local artist.

Something Else Entirely?

Not every painting fits neatly into a category. If you have something different in mind — a landscape, a wildlife scene, a military subject, or a copy of a master work — I'm very happy to discuss it. The process below applies to any commission, regardless of subject.

Oil painting of a wildlife subject — example of a non-maritime commission
Oil painting of a military subject — example of a non-maritime commission
Oil painting of a railway subject — example of a bespoke commission
How It Works

From Conversation to Delivery

Four stages from first enquiry to having the painting on your wall. You'll have as much input as you like throughout, and I'll keep you updated at every step.

Reference photographs and research materials laid out for a painting commission
01

Discussion & Reference

We begin with a conversation about the subject, the setting, and any deadline. I'll gather reference material — photographs, plans, or archival sources — and we'll explore the concept together until the direction feels right.

Pencil sketch and colour study for a painting commission — compositional approval stage
02

Sketch & Approval

A compositional sketch visualises the idea before any paint is committed — the angle, the lighting, the atmosphere. Adjustments are straightforward at this stage, and nothing moves forward until you're satisfied.

Oil painting in progress on an easel — work in progress with visible brushwork and layered paint
03

Painting

The painting is built up over several weeks in traditional oils. You'll receive progress photographs at each key stage, and you're welcome to comment or request adjustments at any point while the work develops.

Completed oil painting, professionally framed and ready for delivery
04

Framing & Delivery

The finished painting is professionally framed to complement the work, then delivered fully insured and ready to hang. Every commission includes compositional approval, bespoke framing, and worldwide shipping.

Watch It Evolve

From First Marks to Finished Painting

See the painting take shape stage by stage — from the bare canvas through to the final details. This is the kind of progress you'll follow throughout your own commission.

Stage 1 — Starting the painting Stage 2 — Blocking in the sky Stage 3 — The hull takes shape Stage 4 — Establishing the sea Stage 5 — Developing the sea Stage 6 — Building detail Stage 7 — The finished painting
Drag to the right to see each stage
Starting the painting
1 / 7

Drag to see each stage of the painting

Gregory Smith of Marine Paintings did an outstanding job creating a gift for my captain. He kept us updated throughout the process, welcomed our input, and created an incredibly detailed and beautifully painted piece of artwork.
First Mate, Cable Ship Dependable
"Very straightforward process with an outstanding result."
Private Collector, Switzerland
"It has arrived and is gorgeous!"
Private Collector, USA
"I'm impressed with the professional way you approached the task with a desire to get it just right."
Private Collector, UK
Close-up detail of an oil painting showing visible brushwork, genuine texture, and fine maritime detail

An Original Oil Painting

Built up in layers of traditional oil paint with exacting detail, textural brushwork, and the kind of physical presence that a photograph or print cannot replicate. Every commission is a one-of-a-kind original — made to last, and made to be lived with.

A completed oil painting in a traditional gilt frame, ready to hang

The finished painting is professionally framed and ready to hang in your home, wherever you are in the world.

Your Painting Begins Here

You don't need a detailed brief or a clear idea of what you want: at whatever stage your idea has reached, I'm happy to discuss ideas.

Simply get in touch whenever you're ready. I'll talk you through how I'd approach the painting, answer any questions, and we'll take it from there.

No commitment needed — just tell me what you're thinking
Continue exploring
All Commission Categories About the Artist Get in Touch
A large, framed oil painting of a white and blue commercial ferry named 'Celandine' sailing beneath the QE2 bridge. The artwork hangs on elegant dark wood-paneled walls in a corporate office, next to a window overlooking a river, with a pair of binoculars resting on the sill.

Corporate Commissions

A naming ceremony. A retirement after thirty years at sea. A fleet milestone.

These moments deserve more than a photograph. A commissioned painting carries the weight and permanence the occasion demands — and with full reproduction rights included as standard, it becomes not just decoration, but a commercial asset.

Visit Corporate Site

The Asset

Uncompromising Accuracy

Built from your General Arrangement drawings, specific liveries, and builder's photography. It is an exact, technically rigorous record of your vessel, rendered in traditional oils.

Boardroom Presence

A statement piece carrying the gravitas required for a corporate headquarters, a wardroom, or the ultimate handover gift for a retiring director.

Perpetual Commercial Rights

Full reproduction rights are included as standard. You receive 600 DPI high-resolution files, ready for immediate use in limited edition prints, client gifting, merchandise, or corporate marketing.

See the Process
A wide, highly detailed pencil sketch of a fleet of modern industrial and research vessels navigating the ocean. The sketch illustrates the complex compositional planning phase for a large-scale corporate commission.

The Process

A seamless workflow designed to require minimal time from your team. Whether working from your supplied references or independent research, you retain complete compositional approval before painting begins.

Commissions are typically delivered within 8–12 weeks and can be timed to naming ceremonies, corporate retirements, or fleet milestones.

01 Enquiry Tell me what you have in mind — the vessel, the occasion, the intended setting. No brief required.
02 Research I source plans and references, or work from materials you provide. Your team's input is welcome.
03 Sketch Viewpoint, sea state, lighting — agreed before painting begins.
04 Approval Revisions at this stage on any element so that you're happy to proceed.
05 Painting Typically 6–8 weeks. You'll see key stages as they happen.
06 Delivery Framed, scanned, insured, delivered with high-resolution files.
A framed oil painting of a Galeon 800 Fly modern luxury motor yacht cruising through choppy waters under a warm, cloudy golden sky. The painting is illuminated by a brass picture light and displayed on rich wood-paneled walls in an upscale hallway.

Precision Before Paint

Nothing is committed to canvas until you are entirely satisfied with the composition. A preparatory colour sketch establishes the vessel's angle, the sea state, and the lighting for your review — ensuring absolute certainty in the final piece before the oil painting begins.

A Client's Perspective
"I am pleased with the painting and impressed with the professional way you approached the task, with a desire to get it just right."

Start the Conversation

Whether you are commissioning a statement piece for the boardroom, a flagship marketing asset, or a retirement gift, I would welcome the conversation. You can reach out directly below with your initial thoughts, or explore the dedicated Corporate site — a focused portfolio designed to easily share the process, commercial rights, and details with your wider team or board.

gregory@marinepaintings.art +44 (0) 7916 066 226
Visit Corporate Site Start a Conversation
Every Commission Includes

Consultation · Research · Compositional Approval · Progress Updates · 600 DPI Scanning · Bespoke Framing · Insured International Delivery

Sizes are fully bespoke and quoted on request

Compass Models maritime scale models workshop
Compass Models custom ship model detail

In Partnership with Compass Models

Compass Models craft bespoke maritime models with meticulous precision.

Bringing the same care and attention to detail in their work as goes into all the paintings on this site, I'm pleased to partner with Compass to offer a 3D accompaniment to the canvas. They work collaboratively with clients to design and craft custom models, including ship-in-a bottle models, nautical bottle openers, intricate industrial prototypes and exhibition pieces. They can be equipped with moving and electrical components as well as striking lighting.

Whether for the private collector’s mantlepiece or the corporate boardroom, each model stands out for its build quality and elegance.

Begin your custom model commission

Small scale. Big impact. Compass Models was born out of a passion for excellent craftsmanship, bringing perfection in every detail.

Start the conversation with Compass directly at info@compass-models.com or follow the link to their site below.

Get in Touch Visit Compass Models
The artist Gregory Smith standing on the teak deck of a Princess S80 luxury motor yacht, holding up a framed oil painting of that same vessel depicted cruising along a mountainous coastline.

About the Artist

Gregory Smith is a British marine artist working in traditional oils, specialising in both historical and contemporary maritime subjects. His practice is rooted in primary-source research. From Admiralty draughts and ship’s logbooks to models and period photography, this archival groundwork ensures that every canvas is as technically faithful as it is atmospheric.

His paintings have been exhibited with the Royal Society of Marine Artists and Marine Artists Gallery, and are held in private collections internationally. During the 2023 Ocean Globe Race in Southampton, his work was acquired by renowned offshore sailors including Tracy Edwards and Marco Trombetti.

Working from his studio in Southampton, his current focus is a continuing series dedicated to exploration vessels — capturing not just the architecture of the ships themselves, but the dramatic, untamed environments they sailed.

Latest News · Get in Touch

International Reach

Works held in collections across ten countries.

United Kingdom United States Netherlands Switzerland Germany Italy Norway Sweden Finland South Africa

Including yacht owners, captains, historic collections, and military.

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Latest Exhibitions

Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual
Mall Galleries, London · 2026
Southampton International Boat Show
Mayflower Park, Southampton · 2026
Guild of Aviation Artists Annual
Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden · 2026
See All Exhibitions

Awards & Recognition

RSMA New Generation Award
Royal Society of Marine Artists
Art Marine Prize
RSMA's Afloat or Ashore Competition
The Pioneer Award
GAvA Annual 2025 and 2026
See All Awards

Dispatches from the Studio

New work, articles, exhibitions, and updates.

All articles & news →

Oil painting of HMS Resolution in the Southern Ocean
Exhibition

Mall Galleries (London), September 2026

Two works selected for the Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition.

Oil painting of the cable ship fleet at sea
Delivery

Cable Fleet

A 20″ × 30″ private commission of 6 cable ships at sea for a retiring captain delivered to the USA.

More from the studio →
"
The painting arrived, and it's georgeous. I will contact you again in some years with my next boat.
Private Collector Norway
A close-up of a person's hand adjusting a gold-framed oil painting on a dark wood-paneled wall. The artwork, illuminated by a picture light, depicts a historical multi-masted sailing ship navigating choppy blue waters with green mountains in the distance.

Every Painting Begins
with a Conversation

Whether you have a specific vessel in mind, a moment from maritime history you’d like captured, or simply the beginnings of an idea — I would welcome hearing from you. There is no obligation and no formality required. Send a brief note with what you have in mind, and we will take it from there.

gregory@marinepaintings.art +44 (0) 7916 066 226

Common Questions

Can you paint modern commercial vessels, or only historic ships?

Both. Modern working vessels — tankers, ferries, and offshore fleets—are as much a part of my practice as Age of Sail subjects and private yachts. The archival research may differ, but the dedication to technical accuracy and atmosphere remains exactly the same.

What do you need from me to start?

Simply an email describing what you have in mind, and I will guide you through the rest. Formal briefs are never necessary—a conversation is always the best starting point.

I don't have detailed plans or photographs — is that a problem?

Not at all. Archival research is a core part of the commission. Depending on the vessel, I can source Admiralty draughts, builder’s records, General Arrangement plans, or period photography through maritime archives and industry contacts.

How long does a commission take?

Typically 8–12 weeks from the approval of the compositional sketch to final delivery. Larger canvases or highly complex scenes may require more time, but a guaranteed timeline is always established before work begins.

Can the painting be delivered in time for a specific event?

Yes. Commissions are frequently timed to mark retirements, milestone birthdays, naming ceremonies, or fleet anniversaries. If you are working toward a fixed date, simply let me know from the outset so we can ensure the timeline is secured.

Start a conversation — I'll respond personally within a working day.

Make an Enquiry

Whether about an available painting, a commission, or a corporate project — I'll respond personally, usually within one working day.

gregory@marinepaintings.art +44 (0) 7916 066 226