Original artwork description:

On the 28th June 1904 the Swedish liner the Norge struck the reef two kilometres NE of Rockall with the loss of 635 passengers (there were 163 survivors). The reef was called Helen's reef after the two masted brigantine the Helen from Dundee which had foundered on the Hasselwood rock approximately 200m from the main stac of Rockall.
As a fisherman I spent some time out at Rockall and saw all of the reefs, often from a little too close for comfort. The bleakness of the scene must have been terrifying for the few survivors who would have realised that they were hundreds of miles from land and the chance of being rescued. I've tried to capture the implacable nature of the enormous Atlantic swells rolling over and breaking on this most isolated outcrop of the British Isles.

Materials used:

oil on board

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