‘The crew’s old oilskins are still hanging from the hooks’

Artist Kurt Jackson on what moved him to celebrate the work of the RNLI.

Ever since 8 members of the Penlee Lifeboat crew were lost at sea in 1981, the original Penlee RNLI boathouse has been left just as it was. Cornwall-based artist Kurt Jackson shares what it was like to step inside the listed building as he set out to portray the poignant scene inside.

His paintings formed part of the RNLI Cornwall exhibition, 75 pieces that capture lifeboats nestled into the coastline, as well as lifeguards watching over local beaches so familiar to Kurt. Hear how the raw and natural beauty of the Cornish landscape has influenced his work.

A selection Kurt's RNLI paintings – including the studies produced at the old Penlee Lifeboat Station – will be exhibited at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth from March 2024.