My interest in ships began at a very young age this was due to my father and uncle having an interest in this field, the house I grew up in was always full of naval memorabilia such as paintings and a huge collection of books covering naval history from the time of nelson to the present. My first model was brought for me at the age of six and I have never really stopped making them since. When I started school I began sketching ships this I did from books to begin with and eventually from my own photography.
My parents informed me that I attended my first navy days (this was an event that happened annually where the navy opened their ships to the public) in 1990 at this time I would only have been four, I have attended this event ever since, over the years I have been aboard a huge number of the ships which served in the navy through the 90s and into the 00s. Unfortunately I attended the royal navies last navy days in 2013 when the navy felt they could no longer host the event.
At school I showed signs that I had a very creative side I always wanted to build or recreate things be it in pencil, paint or wood and the common theme to everything I did was my developing interest in all maritime subjects if the school set me a project and I could link it to the navy or the sea I would.
Over the years I have built up a huge naval book collection the reference material and plans are the main corner stone of my work. I was a member of the sea cadets for four years in this time I learned basic sailing this experience proved invaluable to me developing my understanding of the relationship boats have with the ocean.
Stuart Horley focusing on:
Through 2016 I will continue to produce models for commission and for profiling my paintings and it is my paintings which will be my main focus. One area which I am really going to develop will be the technique I use on the sea, I am determined to get more movement into my scenes and this will come as it did with my models.
Over the last year I have had very positive feedback from people who have commissioned my work and the professional artists which are helping me develop it, I am thrilled that I am finally turning my hobby into a successful career and this is only possible because of the people who share my passion for maritime subjects.
This website brings together my story so far and shows my development in oil painting from its inception to the present. I hope over the coming years to meet more artists in this field and find a competition to display my paintings, the same way I already do with my models. I also wish to make the navy more aware of my work.
If you would like to find out more please dont hesitate to contact me.