by Sam Robson aka LymphomaLass BA(Hons)
Pen and Watercolours (Daniel Smith)
h: 21 w: 30 d: 1 (cms).
I visited Cemaes in June 2022 and was delighted to see the Charles Henry Ashley moored in the harbour. My family has a long history of sailing a beautiful seabird half-rater called “Shearwater” at Trearddur Bay on Anglesey. She turned 100 a couple of years ago after significant expenditure about 25 years ago to keep her seaworthy. So, we have a particular soft spot for historic sail boats and the RNLI, who brave the seas around Ynys Môn to save those in peril. I was determined to paint this sailed lifeboat built in 1907, but other things got in the way until earlier this summer I saw the Afloat or Ashore painting competition. I returned to the National Historic Ships UK Register to check my spelling of the ship’s name after finishing the painting this month to find devastating news. I must confess I cried on reading that Charles Henry Ashley would not be returning to sea again, being just this summer deemed unsafe to use anymore as a training sailboat and beyond practical and economic repair. I was relieved to read that Cemaes Boat Club is fundraising towards preserving Charles Henry Ashley for the future and for a suitable location where she can be stored for visitors to enjoy her history. As seafaring folk sailing in this remarkable part of North Wales, our heritage is just so fragile. My use of purple Amethyst and black Haematite Genuine, the colours of mourning, for the mud and stones of the Harbour now feels a little prescient. Cadwch yn ddiogel rwan/ Keep safe now, Charles Henry Ashley, ar ôl achub eraill/ after saving others.
£245.00 (As exhibited.)
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