Shore Leave
Shore leave would come and go in a moment for those sailors who travelled around the world, collecting and shipping precious cargo to far away countries. When dry land called, the appetite for life was great.
An overnight docking in Cardiff Bay was an experience. Wine, women, and song was often accompanied with drunken brawling and violence between sailors and locals, temporary lovers and partners, and the authorities and feuds of the pent-up frustrations of being at sea for long periods.
Following their bar room brawling, many a sailor would be arrested by police and harbour officials, and “accommodated” until they were sober or collected by their ships Captain to be taken back on board and disciplined.
In 1897, the Pierhead Building at the gate of Cardiff Bay harbour was the headquarters for the Bute Dock Company. Standing tall and majestic, the Welsh “Big Ben” would ring with the success of its exporting sea fairing industry.
However, under the authority and behest of the Harbour Master, deep within its foundations, the dense cold damp walls housed those sailors who were unfortunate enough to have been apprehended for their drunken violence. They now found themselves locked away with very little care, until the dawn tied beckoned and the Captain came calling.
Ian Mackenzie
Ian Mackenzie is an artist based in South Wales. He works in rich detailed oils on canvas. He has a unique eye for colour and precision and as such many of his paintings represent a photorealism style.
Ians influence to paint comes from the study of the subject, the emotion involved and the interaction with the surrounding environment.
Many of his commissioned pieces have enthused not only the recipient, but also the painter himself by the overwhelming emotion of their positive reaction.
Ian says "this reaction drives me to achieve more. In the first instance art allows me the escape we all desire. But it is the journey of creating a piece of art for someone else that intrigues me giving consideration to the response of the recipient come the final brush stroke"
His work is influenced by the contemporary paintings of Mitch Griffiths, closely followed by Mathieu Bassez and Istvan Sandorfi. He is also an admirer of the master of light and dark, Caravaggio.
Internation
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International Deliveries
At Blackwater we are able to arrange international delivery on all of our artwork. Please contact our team on +44 (0)2920 349 819 .
Alternatively you can contact us via email at hello@blackwatergallery.co.uk