Worle artist donates sketch of Weston-super-Mare RNLI’s lifeboat to crew to help
Local Army veteran and artist, Malcolm Cleverley from Worle created a mixed media artwork of the Weston RNLI lifeboat, after seeing the boat in action. He posted the picture on social media and received such an overwhelming response he decided to hand over the picture and rights to Weston RNLI.
After retiring just over a year ago Malcolm decided to focus on his love of drawing, creating artworks and commissions of military themes. When he saw photos of Weston RNLI ‘s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat in action he was inspired to create something new.
Malcolm, a retired Tank Commander, said ‘I initially drew the lifeboat purely as an exercise then, thought I’d pop something positive on the Facebook page for Weston Super Mare.’ ‘I’m most impressed how much interest the picture has generated, it’s had over 400 likes.’
After posting the picture on the Weston-super-Mare in the Spotlight Facebook page, Malcolm received several requests from people wanting prints of the picture. He usually sells his sketches and takes on commissions via his website www.malcyart.co.uk, but in this case he decided to handover the copyright to the RNLI for them to sell copies.
Malcolm, said ‘I’ve been involved with a few military connected organisations and charities … I do lots of artworks which I sell on my website but, I get a buzz from ‘giving back’ to worthy causes’. ‘I’ll continue to sketch a library of free pictures for use by the RNLI charity here at Weston.’
The Weston volunteer lifeboat crew provide a 24-hour search and rescue service 365 days a year along the North Somerset Coastline, but none of this would be possible without the support of the public and their donations. Any profit raised from sales of the picture will go direct to Weston-super-Mare RNLI.
The Weston RNLI team invited Malcolm down to watch a routine Sunday training session and formally hand over his artwork to the crew. Den Pope, a member of the boat crew and former serviceman who served in the King’s Royal Hussars said ‘It was great to meet Malcolm and introduce him to volunteer crew at the station. It’s a brilliant painting and we are really grateful he has kindly donated it to us to help with vital fundraising activities. Without donations we would not have the resources we need to continue to save lives at sea. I’m sure lots of the crew and hopefully people visiting our RNLI shop will be buying prints.’
If you would like to order a mounted or framed A4/A3 print of Malcolm’s picture please contact Holly Turner, Lifeboat Press Officer, Tel. 07930279912 or email: [email protected]. Alternatively, pop into the RNLI Shop, The Cove, by Marine Lake. Prices will range from £15 to £45.
Notes to editors
- Malcolm’s post on the Weston-super-Mare in the Spotlight Facebook page can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14szvGNKPa/
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Weston’s Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officers Holly Turner [email protected] Tel. 07930279912 or Rob Lewis [email protected] Tel. 07493369282.
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre https://rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 over 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 142,200 lives.
Weston-super-Mare RNLI lifeboat station was founded in 1882. Between 1882 and 2023 the Weston-super-Mare volunteer lifeboat crew have launched 2,269 times and saved 477 lives.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.