A Nautical Odyssey

David Bell has been painting ships and the sea for more than forty years. From smacks to schooners, from whalers to warships his investigations have taken him on a remarkable pictorial journey through the history of the sea. The accuracy of his painting is infused with that vital ingredient 'artistic vision'. 


Finding inspiration in all sorts of areas through time and place he has drawn on his outstanding talent as an artist and his tremendous experience of the sea during his time and travels around the world as a navigator.


This book is a product of David Bells' two passions - painting and maritime history. It charts his journey through time from Elizabethan galleons, to the last days of the trawling industry, picking out the ships whose line and design captivates him and the mariners for whom he has the utmost admiration. This odyssey has been illustrated and annotated by him to produce a book that will be coveted by anyone with an interest in the art of the sea. He has linked text with paintings inspired by artistic vision to create a book which is not only fascinating to read but also a pleasure to behold, an aesthetically stunning marriage of words and pictures.