What defines mid-20th-century maritime watercolour painting?

Mid-20th-century maritime watercolour painting is a genre focused on depicting naval vessels, harbours, and seafaring activity with technical precision. Artists during this period often used fluid watercolour washes combined with fine line work to document modern battleships, ocean liners, and historic ports.

What materials are traditionally used in framed watercolour artwork?

Traditional watercolour paintings are created using water-soluble pigments applied to heavy cotton rag paper. Professional framing involves acid-free mountboard, protective glazing, and a wooden or composite frame to seal the paper against environmental dust and atmospheric changes.

How do you verify the authenticity of mid-20th-century naval art?

Authenticity can be evaluated by inspecting the artists signature, inscriptions, subject accuracy, and age-appropriate paper tone. Works by naval officers or official war artists often include handwritten vessel designations, locations, or dates in the lower margins.

How can maritime artwork be styled in contemporary interiors?

Maritime paintings pair well with dark timber panelling, brass accents, and structured tailored upholstery. Mounting framed naval art above a desk, bookshelf, or within a gallery wall adds historic architectural interest to studies, hallways, and living rooms.

How should paper watercolour paintings be preserved and protected?

Watercolour pigments on paper should be kept away from direct sunlight to prevent fading. Display the piece behind UV-filtering glass and maintain a stable indoor humidity level to prevent foxing, paper warping, or moisture accumulation inside the frame.

for sale €1,152 $1,251

£985

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Framed Marine Art

Eric Tufnell Watercolour

Original Maritime Watercolour

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Blue Harbour Watercolour Painting

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Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

Name: Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1109720
Price: 985 GBP
Availability: InStock

1940 - 1960

For Sale by Big Sky Fine Art

Description

Commander Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell RN.

English ( b.1888 - d.1979 ).

HMS Newcastle In Sydney Harbour, December 1956.

UK Squadron Attending 1956 Olympics, Melbourne, Australia.

Watercolour On Paper. Signed.

Image size 9.8 inches x 14.2 inches ( 25cm x 36cm ).

Frame size 20.3 inches x 24.2 inches ( 51.5cm x 61.5cm ).

UPDATE: Now providing free delivery to Australia on this painting as well as our usual free delivery to UK, Europe, USA and Canada.

Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this original painting is by Commander Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell RN and dates from 1956.

The painting is presented and supplied in a sympathetic and contrasting contemporary frame to suit the subject colouration (which is shown in these photographs) , and behind premium anti-reflective glass with UV Protection greater than 70% (Artglass AR 70™).

This vintage watercolour is in superb condition. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display.

The watercolour is signed lower right and titled lower left.

Good News for our US Customers!

From 24 July 2026 the original works of art we sell are classified under the US Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) Chapter 97 as exempt from the additional Section 301 import tariffs introduced in February 2026. This means that this original work of art can be imported into the United States without these additional tariffs. This allows American customers to buy from us with confidence, knowing that they are not going to be penalised by this global tariff.

Please note that normal U.S. Customs procedures and any applicable US State sales or use taxes remain unchanged.

Commander Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell RN was a respected painter of ships in watercolour.

He was born on 9th September 1888 at Bangalore in India. He joined HMS Britannia as a cadet in 1903 and went to sea as a midshipman in 1904. He served in submarines from 1909-1917 and then in anti-submarine work until 1919. He commanded several small ships in the Eastern Mediterranean and served in the Fleet Air Arm from 1926-30. In 1938 he was recalled to the Navy for meteorological work in Columbo and left Ceylon in 1942, soon after the Japanese attack. He then took up an appointment to the Naval Information Services, where he served until his retirement in 1946.

Although he received no formal art training, his knowledge of the seas and skies proved of great help to him in his painting. His water-colours have often been on show at the Parker Gallery in London. He lived his later years at Farnham in Surrey and was still actively painting in his late 80s.

This painting brings together both a legendary warship and a highly experienced Naval Officer, who between them saw a very significant amount of historic military activity in the mid-twentieth century.

This exquisite watercolour painting depicts the ship HMS Newcastle in Sydney Harbour in December 1956. It portrays a magnificent view of the entire starboard side of the ship in front of the iconic Sydney Harbour steel arch through bridge, nicknamed the “coat hanger”, which spans Sydney Harbour from the central business district to the North Shore.

The significance of this image is that HMS Newcastle had been part of a squadron attending the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. She was present in Sydney Harbour at this time because she was refuelling there before travelling back to Singapore.

The precision and detail on this painting makes it appear almost as a photograph, and it is clear that it has been created by an artist who has a thorough understanding of his subject. For Commander Tufnell, this work was a tribute to a ship that was practically a legend.

Further information on this vessel is on the painting's page on bigskyfineart.com

For a full biography of this artist please see his listing on www.bigskyfineart.com .

Contact us by phone on +44 (0) 1305 581426 or email art@bigskyfineart.com .

Physical Dimensions

Height

51.5cm (20.28")

Width

61.5cm (24.21")

Depth

2.5cm (0.98")

Declaration

Big Sky Fine Art has dated this Maritime Watercolour Painting to the 1950s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1109720

Description

Commander Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell RN.

English ( b.1888 - d.1979 ).

HMS Newcastle In Sydney Harbour, December 1956.

UK Squadron Attending 1956 Olympics, Melbourne, Australia.

Watercolour On Paper. Signed.

fig 1. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 1. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

Image size 9.8 inches x 14.2 inches ( 25cm x 36cm ).

Frame size 20.3 inches x 24.2 inches ( 51.5cm x 61.5cm ).

“

UPDATE: Now providing free delivery to Australia on this painting as well as our usual free delivery to UK, Europe, USA and Canada.

Big Sky Fine Art

fig 2. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 2. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this original painting is by Commander Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell RN and dates from 1956.

The painting is presented and supplied in a sympathetic and contrasting contemporary frame to suit the subject colouration (which is shown in these photographs) , and behind premium anti-reflective glass with UV Protection greater than 70% (Artglass AR 70™).

fig 3. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 3. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

This vintage watercolour is in superb condition. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display.

The watercolour is signed lower right and titled lower left.

Good News for our US Customers!

fig 4. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 4. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

From 24 July 2026 the original works of art we sell are classified under the US Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) Chapter 97 as exempt from the additional Section 301 import tariffs introduced in February 2026. This means that this original work of art can be imported into the United States without these additional tariffs. This allows American customers to buy from us with confidence, knowing that they are not going to be penalised by this global tariff.

fig 5. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 5. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

Please note that normal U.S. Customs procedures and any applicable US State sales or use taxes remain unchanged.

Commander Eric Erskine Campbell Tufnell RN was a respected painter of ships in watercolour.

fig 6. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 6. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

He was born on 9th September 1888 at Bangalore in India. He joined HMS Britannia as a cadet in 1903 and went to sea as a midshipman in 1904. He served in submarines from 1909-1917 and then in anti-submarine work until 1919. He commanded several small ships in the Eastern Mediterranean and served in the Fleet Air Arm from 1926-30. In 1938 he was recalled to the Navy for meteorological work in Columbo and left Ceylon in 1942, soon after the Japanese attack. He then took up an appointment to the Naval Information Services, where he served until his retirement in 1946.

fig 7. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 7. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

Although he received no formal art training, his knowledge of the seas and skies proved of great help to him in his painting. His water-colours have often been on show at the Parker Gallery in London. He lived his later years at Farnham in Surrey and was still actively painting in his late 80s.

fig 8. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 8. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

This painting brings together both a legendary warship and a highly experienced Naval Officer, who between them saw a very significant amount of historic military activity in the mid-twentieth century.

fig 9. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 9. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

This exquisite watercolour painting depicts the ship HMS Newcastle in Sydney Harbour in December 1956. It portrays a magnificent view of the entire starboard side of the ship in front of the iconic Sydney Harbour steel arch through bridge, nicknamed the “coat hanger”, which spans Sydney Harbour from the central business district to the North Shore.

fig 10. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 10. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

The significance of this image is that HMS Newcastle had been part of a squadron attending the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. She was present in Sydney Harbour at this time because she was refuelling there before travelling back to Singapore.

fig 11. Framed maritime watercolour painting depicting HMS Newcastle passing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge against a light blue sky and harbour water. — fig 11. Commander Eric Tufnell Royal Navy 1888 – 1979. Hms Newcastle in Sydney Harbour, 1956. Framed Watercolour. Melbourne Olympic Games.

The precision and detail on this painting makes it appear almost as a photograph, and it is clear that it has been created by an artist who has a thorough understanding of his subject. For Commander Tufnell, this work was a tribute to a ship that was practically a legend.