Southampton Commissions
Bespoke oil paintings of the cruise ships, merchant vessels, and marinas of Southampton.
A painting that captures the city
and its deep connection with the sea.
A cruise ship you sailed on from the city, your yacht in Ocean Village Marina, the waterfront at sunset, or a historic liner departing the docks. A painting captures that in a way nothing else can.
Whether it's a gift for someone who lives here, a memento of a voyage that began here, or a piece for a local business, a commissioned oil painting is unique and personal.
For Residents & Locals
A painting of the waterfront you see every day, your boat in the marina, or the view from Town Quay — a personal piece of the city you call home, painted in traditional oils.
For Cruise Passengers & Tourists
Commemorate a voyage that began or ended in Southampton — the ship, the departure, the Solent crossing — captured as a one-of-a-kind original artwork and a lasting reminder of the experience.
For Businesses & Shipping Companies
Corporate gifts, office displays, naming ceremonies, and boardroom paintings — with full reproduction rights so the artwork works across your organisation. Local relevance, professional finish.
Town Quay
12″ × 16″ · Oil on canvas panelThe Red Jet terminal with ferries alongside
Capricho
10″ × 14″ · Oil on canvas panelOcean Village scene with yachts and the Harbour Hotel
Calshot Spit
10″ × 20″ · Oil on panelThe Calshot Spit lightship at sunset
Queen Mary’s Maiden Voyage
14″ × 30″ · Oil on canvasRMS Queen Mary sets out for New York.
See more Southampton paintings in the gallery
Your Experience
A straightforward process: Four main stages from first conversation to the painting on your wall.
Discussion
A brief call or email exchange to cover what you have in mind. The vessel, the occasion, any deadline, and the size that suits. No formal brief needed — just a conversation.
Sketch
I research the vessel and produce a compositional sketch for your approval. You'll see the angle, setting, and livery before any paint is committed — and adjustments are straightforward at this stage.
Painting
The painting is created over six to eight weeks in traditional oils. I'll send progress images at key stages so you can follow the work as it develops — no surprises.
Delivery
Professionally framed, fully insured, and shipped to you worldwide. High-resolution digital files are included for reproduction — prints, merchandise, or corporate use.
Surface & Detail
These are paintings made to be lived with — built up in layers of oil paint with visible brushwork, genuine texture, and the kind of physical presence that a print or photograph cannot replicate. Every commission is a one-of-a-kind original.
I am impressed with the professional way you approached the task, with a desire to get it just right.
Works delivered to the UK, Europe, North America, and beyond. Fully insured shipping worldwide.
Gregory Smith
Gregory Smith is a British marine artist working in traditional oils, specialising in both commercial and historical vessels. A seven-time exhibitor with the Royal Society of Marine Artists, his work covers everything from modern cruise ships and merchant fleets to historic liners and tall ships.
Every commission is approached practically and collaboratively — built from General Arrangement plans, builder's photography, and direct consultation. The aim is always the same: technical accuracy first, then genuine atmosphere. Ships painted as they deserve to be remembered.
Ready to discuss a commission?
Whether it's a cruise ship you sailed on from Southampton, your yacht in Ocean Village, the waterfront you see every day, or a piece of the city's maritime history — I'd welcome hearing from you. A subject and the occasion is all that's needed to start.
Common Questions
What subjects can you paint from Southampton?
Anything connected to Southampton's maritime life — cruise ships departing or arriving at the port, yachts and motor cruisers in Ocean Village or Shamrock Quay, Red Funnel ferries crossing the Solent, container ships in the docks, historic liners like Titanic or Queen Mary, or simply the waterfront itself. If it's connected to Southampton and the sea, I can paint it.
Can you paint a specific cruise ship I sailed on?
Absolutely. Whether it's a Cunard Queen, a P&O liner, or any vessel that sailed from Southampton, I can paint the ship in her Southampton setting — departing the terminal, passing Calshot, or heading out through the Solent. Just provide the ship name and approximate dates and I'll handle the research.
I'd like a painting of my yacht in the marina — is that possible?
Yes. I regularly paint private yachts and motor cruisers in their home berths. Ocean Village, Shamrock Quay, Hythe Marina, or any Southampton-area marina can be depicted accurately. Provide a few photographs of your boat and I'll do the rest.
Can you work to a specific deadline?
Yes. Commissions are frequently timed to birthdays, retirements, wedding anniversaries, and corporate events. If you're working toward a fixed date, let me know from the start and I'll confirm the timeline before any work begins.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. I have extensive experience with historical subjects and regularly work from archival photographs, postcards, and builder's plans. Titanic's departure, the great ocean liner era, the flying boats at Hythe, or the old docks — all are possible subjects.
Can you paint a historical Southampton scene?
Yes. I can supply a formal quotation, proforma invoice, or whatever documentation your procurement or finance team requires.