The RNLI features in a major new exhibition of work by leading Cornish artist Kurt Jackson.
The free exhibition, which opens tomorrow (March 18) at the Jackson Foundation Gallery in St Just, documents the role of RNLI lifeboats and lifeguards in Cornwall. It will run through to August.
Jackson, one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists, has lived in Cornwall with his wife Caroline for the last 40 years, with his large-scale paintings capturing the raw and natural beauty of the Cornish landscape.
His latest exhibition, called "RNLI Cornwall", features more than 75 paintings varying in scale from postcard-sized pieces to large canvasses measured in metres that capture the familiar sight of the blue and orange of the charity’s lifeboats nestled into Cornish harbours and coastlines, and lifeguards at the centre of Cornish beach scenes.
Some of the paintings are of the old Penlee lifeboat station which Kurt has captured as it was left after the disaster in 1981, a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made.
One of the paintings, "Sennen flowing tide", has been donated by Kurt Jackson to fund-raise in aid of the RNLI in a prize draw during the exhibition. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to support the RNLI. Tickets and information are available from the Jackson Foundation website www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com/RNLI-draw
With the charity set to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2024, the Jackson Foundation has also gifted the RNLI space in its upper gallery to explore its work as seen through the lens of the camera over the last two centuries.
The photographs on show include work from Jack Lowe’s ongoing project to photograph the UK's lifeboat crew with technology from the 1860s and Nigel Millard’s shots of lifeboats in action.
Kurt Jackson described his inspiration to celebrate the role of the RNLI within his paintings: "I know by being alongside, in the shallows. On the surface, on the coast path or sat watching while I paint, making my marks, there is always the potential for mishap. I try not to take this place for granted but I know if something goes wrong (when distracted, in the depths of painting, a little slip, a loose rock, the unexpected wave…) the lifeguards and lifeboat crews are there. Equally, it’s reassuring to know that my family, friends and the wider community are also being watched over.
"And so, I want to thank the RNLI. This project is an acknowledgement of their dedication, their hard work, their sacrifice, and their care."
Dave Nicoll, RNLI fund-raising and partnerships lead, said the charity is honoured to feature in Kurt’s art: "Kurt’s beautiful artwork is well known and recognised across the world, and especially so in Cornwall so to be the focus of his new exhibition is incredible for the charity and something we’re honoured to be a part of.
"Kurt has really captured how much a part of the Cornish landscape our RNLI lifeboats and stations have become over the last nearly 200 years and within the last 20, the familiar red and yellow of the lifeguard’s flags on the county’s beaches."