Little Harbour oil painting on board

A charming small-scale harbour scene, painted in oils directly onto a reclaimed wood sample board. Loosely worked in soft blues, greens and warm earthy tones, the painting depicts a quiet waterside village with cottages gathered around the harbour, small sailing boats on the water and their reflections picked out in expressive touches of colour.

15.3 x 7.5 cm

What makes the piece especially appealing is its unusual support. The painting forms part of a group executed on vintage timber samples, with some bearing original labels identifying woods including Satin Walnut, Ash, American Oak and Honduras Mahogany. One surviving trade label reads “Mahogany (African) – Fitchett & Woollacott Ltd., Nottingham.” These remnants of the boards’ former purpose add an intriguing material history to the painting and give it the intimate, resourceful quality of an artist’s study.

“& Woollacott Ltd., Nottingham was a Nottingham firm associated with the timber and woodworking trade, supplying woods such as mahogany and other cabinet-making timbers. The little boards appear to have been commercial timber samples, intended to demonstrate different species of wood to customers or tradespeople.