HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought is shown driving through lively seas as she appeared in 1907 — her first full year in commission and the moment when she was, without question, the most powerful warship afloat. The viewpoint is intended to emphasise the sheer weight of water she throws aside, while smoke from her twin funnels streams aft in a freshening wind.
Launched at Portsmouth Dockyard in February 1906 after just fourteen months on the slipway — a deliberate demonstration of industrial urgency — Dreadnought introduced the all-big-gun concept to capital ship design. Her main armament of ten 12-inch guns in five turrets, combined with steam turbine propulsion giving 21 knots, made every existing battleship in the world obsolete overnight. The name itself became a generic term: all subsequent capital ships were 'dreadnoughts', and all that came before were merely 'pre-dreadnoughts'.
The resulting naval arms race between Britain and Germany dominated the decade before the First World War and shaped the political landscape that led to the conflict. Ironically, Dreadnought herself saw little major action — her successors had already superseded her by 1914. Her most notable wartime act was ramming and sinking the German submarine U-29 in March 1915, making her the only battleship to sink a submarine by ramming. She was placed in reserve in 1919 and sold for scrapping in 1921. This painting was sold through Marine Artists Gallery at the start of 2026.
The research the painting was built on
For this painting, I drew largely on the book 'The Battleship Dreadnought' by John Roberts - part of the Anatomy of the Ship series. The book contains extensive plans for the ship across the various refits, and these can be translated into perspective for the drawing that underlies the painting. From there, I can use the photographic reference in the book and elsewhere to fill in the details and get a sense of what Dreadnought would have looked like actually out at sea.
Browse more subjects of this period, or explore commissions
More ships of the 20th century
Explore the collection →
Read about the process of creating your own painting
Commission a painting →This painting found its home.
Yours is waiting.
If it's Dreadnought herself that interests you, perhaps in a different sea state, a different moment in her career, or specific configuration, I can paint a variation of a similar scale and spirit. And if it's a different subject entirely, the same research and approach applies.
Just a ship's name or a general idea is plenty to start. I'll reply personally, usually within one working day.
Full details of how commissions work →