Oil on Linen
—
Now Exhibiting
On The Square Emporium
17 Heron Road, Belfast, United Kingdom, BT3 9LE
2nd May - 1st August 2026
Monday - Saturday
10am - 6pm
—
Who is Bob?
Bob was a sailor I painted many years ago. I was inspired to paint ‘Bob’s Brother’ when I visited the Outer Hebrides.
During my trip I noticed that the dates on the War Memorials for WW1 were strangely 1914 to 1919 and they were all immaculately kept despite the challenging environment. Then I noticed that many of the guest houses I visited displayed portraits of young men. The islanders were so friendly and loved to talk so I asked about these two things, and discovered that they were connected. What I learnt explained why the grief is still so profound across the Outer Hebrides.
In the early hours of 1st January 1919 a ship, HMY Iolaire, trying to bring men home from the War in time for Hogmanay, encountered a bad storm and tragically it ran aground only metres from the Stornoway shore; over 200 young men were drowned.
One of the portraits in the guesthouse where I stayed was the great uncle of my host. He told me that his great uncle was one of two brothers returning from the war but they had not been able to get on the same ship. One of the brothers got a boat the following day and as a result he survived, the other didn’t.
This tragedy devastated the small population on the islands and the impact is still obvious today. I struggled to convey the emotions of the islanders and I felt a great weight in trying to portray this sense of grief which deeply moved me.
Is ‘Bob’s Brother’ the one who mourns or the one who was lost?
—
Original: FOR SALE
117cm x 67cm
Framed Print: Available for Order
Oil on Linen
—
Now Exhibiting
On The Square Emporium
17 Heron Road, Belfast, United Kingdom, BT3 9LE
2nd May - 1st August 2026
Monday - Saturday
10am - 6pm
—
Who is Bob?
Bob was a sailor I painted many years ago. I was inspired to paint ‘Bob’s Brother’ when I visited the Outer Hebrides.
During my trip I noticed that the dates on the War Memorials for WW1 were strangely 1914 to 1919 and they were all immaculately kept despite the challenging environment. Then I noticed that many of the guest houses I visited displayed portraits of young men. The islanders were so friendly and loved to talk so I asked about these two things, and discovered that they were connected. What I learnt explained why the grief is still so profound across the Outer Hebrides.
In the early hours of 1st January 1919 a ship, HMY Iolaire, trying to bring men home from the War in time for Hogmanay, encountered a bad storm and tragically it ran aground only metres from the Stornoway shore; over 200 young men were drowned.
One of the portraits in the guesthouse where I stayed was the great uncle of my host. He told me that his great uncle was one of two brothers returning from the war but they had not been able to get on the same ship. One of the brothers got a boat the following day and as a result he survived, the other didn’t.
This tragedy devastated the small population on the islands and the impact is still obvious today. I struggled to convey the emotions of the islanders and I felt a great weight in trying to portray this sense of grief which deeply moved me.
Is ‘Bob’s Brother’ the one who mourns or the one who was lost?
—
Original: FOR SALE
117cm x 67cm
Framed Print: Available for Order