Artist donates painting to Weymouth RNLI lifeboat station

The tickets cost £1 and can be purchased from the Cove Gallery at 9 Trinity Street where the painting is on display in the window, or from the lifeboat station RNLI shop which is open from 10.30 to 4.30 every day. They can also be purchased online at www.covegallery.co.uk

The raffle will be drawn at the RNLI coffee morning to be held at the Pavilion on the 13th November.

The donated painting is titled 'Uphaullya' which is a Viking word representing Jan's Viking heritage and also a play of words on Up Haul which is part of the rigging for the Spinnaker sail which is so dominant in the painting.

In addition to the first prize of the original painting, Jan has generously donated 6 Limited Edition Giclée Prints worth £300 each.

Jan has been a sailor for over twenty years and has a close affinity with the RNLI. She said' When you are out sailing it is so reassuring to know that they are always there to help you if you need it.' Jan loves Weymouth and is a regular visitor here, 'Weymouth was the first port that I ever sailed into,' she said,' and I thought that it was a wonderful place.'

Jan is a mainly self-taught artist, apart from 3 years study with the Open College of the Arts and has been painting for over 25 years.

She works full time from her studio in the lovely East Neuk of Fife and with the sea nearby her painting can be combined with her other great love of sailing. She makes regular trips around the coast of Britain and particularly to the West Coast of Scotland both for sailing and to observe the changing scenery and find new ideas for her work.

Jan’s paintings are as much about the paint as the picture – the paint is laid on thickly so that it catches the light and adds extra depth. This style of painting helps to capture the tremendous movement, thrills and glorious colours of sailing, both in a scenic and racing sense.

Paul Mooney, owner of the Cove Gallery said;

'To celebrate the Weymouth Lifeboat's 150th Anniversary, Cove Gallery in association with artist Jan Nelson and the RNLI, is holding a Charity Raffle of an original Jan Nelson painting. All proceeds from the raffle will go to the RNLI.'

UpHaullya! is a dramatic acrylic painting on 1 metre square box canvas - a classic action-packed Jan Nelson seascape. Normally this painting would retail at Cove Gallery for upwards of £1500.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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