From the Seamanship Branch to the Canvas
My painting of HMS Queen Elizabeth on display in the Admiral’s Dining Cabin on board the capital warship.
From the decks of the Royal Navy to the wardrooms of Britain’s warships. My journey as a maritime artist is rooted in a sailor’s firsthand understanding of the sea. Today, my paintings hang proudly aboard numerous active fleet vessels, including HMS Queen Elizabeth. Below is the story of how a teenage passion for drawing ships evolved into a lifelong career dedicated to preserving naval heritage in paint.
Biography & Career History
Early Years & Naval Service
I began drawing ships in my early teens (a watercolour from 1973 is shown below). Coming from a family with deep roots in the Royal Navy, I felt a strong pull to join the service myself, even though I wanted to make my career in art. I firmly believed that naval service would aid my development as a marine artist, driven by the philosophy that "you can only paint what you truly understand."
During my seven years in the service, I spent my free time drawing ships in the dockyards and sketching portraits of my fellow crew members. In 1977, I won a competition with my design for the First Day Cover envelope for the Silver Jubilee Review of the Fleet, and I regularly painted ship portraits for commanding officers.
Illustrating Naval History
After leaving the Navy, I enrolled at an art college that happened to specialise in large-scale artwork for preserved historic ships like the SS Great Britain and HMS Warrior. Because of my naval background, I was selected to paint a two-metre-long cutaway of the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.
This three-year project caught the eye of a prominent maritime publisher. They were launching a book series on famous warships and hired me to both write and illustrate the volume dedicated to HMS Belfast.
A Diverse Career in Illustration
My early career after college took me through a wide variety of creative industries:
• Studio Design: Spent a year at a graphic design studio in Southampton, gaining vital experience producing artwork to order.
• Publishing: Continued writing and illustrating my own maritime books and designing book covers.
• Agency Work: Joined London agencies illustrating everything from children's books and postage stamps to maritime fiction covers, historical graphic novels, and aircraft.
A Return to the Fleet
My teenage painting of HMS Diana
The painting of HMS Diana featured here was painted for my sister, Diana, who worked at the Royal Navy School of Navigation for 22 years. Through her collection of the Navy News, I connected with the paper's editorial staff and began producing cutaway illustrations for them.
One day, a commanding officer approached the editor looking for an artist to paint his ship and produce prints for a rededication ceremony. That single request launched a rewarding career path.
Today, more than a decade later, my paintings hang proudly aboard numerous Royal Navy vessels, including Britain's capital warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth. I have accepted private commissions from senior officers and maritime enthusiasts worldwide, working in oil, acrylic, and digital mediums.
If you are interested in commissioning a painting, please email me at: rosswatton@btinternet.com.
Early Years & Naval Service
I began drawing ships in my early teens (a watercolour from 1973 is shown below). Coming from a family with deep roots in the Royal Navy, I felt a strong pull to join the service myself, even though I wanted to make my career in art. I firmly believed that naval service would aid my development as a marine artist, driven by the philosophy that "you can only paint what you truly understand."
During my seven years in the service, I spent my free time drawing ships in the dockyards and sketching portraits of my fellow crew members. In 1977, I won a competition with my design for the First Day Cover envelope for the Silver Jubilee Review of the Fleet, and I regularly painted ship portraits for commanding officers.
Illustrating Naval History
After leaving the Navy, I enrolled at an art college that happened to specialise in large-scale artwork for preserved historic ships like the SS Great Britain and HMS Warrior. Because of my naval background, I was selected to paint a two-metre-long cutaway of the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.
This three-year project caught the eye of a prominent maritime publisher. They were launching a book series on famous warships and hired me to both write and illustrate the volume dedicated to HMS Belfast.
A Diverse Career in Illustration
My early career after college took me through a wide variety of creative industries:
• Studio Design: Spent a year at a graphic design studio in Southampton, gaining vital experience producing artwork to order.
• Publishing: Continued writing and illustrating my own maritime books and designing book covers.
• Agency Work: Joined London agencies illustrating everything from children's books and postage stamps to maritime fiction covers, historical graphic novels, and aircraft.
A Return to the Fleet
My teenage painting of HMS Diana
The painting of HMS Diana featured here was painted for my sister, Diana, who worked at the Royal Navy School of Navigation for 22 years. Through her collection of the Navy News, I connected with the paper's editorial staff and began producing cutaway illustrations for them.
One day, a commanding officer approached the editor looking for an artist to paint his ship and produce prints for a rededication ceremony. That single request launched a rewarding career path.
Today, more than a decade later, my paintings hang proudly aboard numerous Royal Navy vessels, including Britain's capital warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth. I have accepted private commissions from senior officers and maritime enthusiasts worldwide, working in oil, acrylic, and digital mediums.
If you are interested in commissioning a painting, please email me at: rosswatton@btinternet.com.