Velsheda
A Painting of a J Class Yacht
There's something profoundly stirring about the sight of a J Class yacht under full sail, and Velsheda — graceful, powerful, and steeped in maritime heritage — embodies that spirit like no other.
In my painting of Velsheda, I set out to capture not just the yacht's elegance, but the strength and emotion of the moment: the tension in the rigging, the gleam of sunlight on the hull, and the interplay of wind and water. It's a tribute to craftsmanship, both nautical and artistic.
As an artist, I've always been drawn to the challenge of portraying motion and atmosphere with photorealistic precision.
A Yacht that has Inspired Generations
With Velsheda, I wanted to go beyond mere representation and evoke the experience of being there: feeling the salt air, hearing the flow of the sea, and witnessing the timeless beauty of a yacht that has inspired generations. Every brushstroke was guided by a deep respect for the vessel's legacy and a desire to honour its place in sailing history.
Traditional Maritime Art
Collectors who appreciate maritime art often seek pieces that speak to both tradition and individuality. This painting is part of a broader body of work that reflects my commitment to capturing iconic subjects with authenticity and emotional depth. Whether displayed in a coastal retreat or a contemporary interior, I believe this piece offers a compelling focal point — one that invites reflection, conversation, and admiration.
Falmouth J Class Regatta
This painting depicts Velsheda preparing shortly before the first of two races that were to commence on the second day of the regatta. As Velsheda glided smoothly past us in the calm waters the morning sun gleamed beautifully on her hull for just the briefest, perfect moment, steering the reflected light downward upon the water. I was on board a powerful rib, chartered by Solent Rib Charter, and was there to witness the race as a spectator and also to document the regatta with my photographic kit.
J Class Yacht Paintings
These photographs would become useful as a form of reference when I returned to my studio in order to produce a new collection of J Class yacht paintings. For me, as an artist, it captured the serenity of the moment and showed Velsheda at her most elegant, yet also poised and ready, prior to the race beginning. This moment always remained with me, and I guess it was inevitable that I would depict this scene as faithfully as I could and reveal the true level of luminosity that displayed itself on that splendid morning.
About the boat Velsheda
Launched in 1933 for WL Stephenson, Velsheda was designed by Charles Nicholson and built in Gosport, England at Camper and Nicholson. She is named after the owner's three daughters Velma, Sheila and Daphne. Velsheda never participated in the America's Cup. Though between 1933 and 1936 she was successful racing against Britannia as well as Cup challengers Endeavour and Shamrock in English waters.
From 1937, Velsheda was laid up in a mud berth in the Hamble before being purchased in 1984 by Terry Brabant. She sailed mainly around the south coast of England, occasionally ventured to the Mediterranean and went to the Caribbean once. She was then bought by a Swiss owner who started a refit but was unable to continue to fund the programme. Laid up in Gosport, where she was originally built, Velsheda was bought more or less as a shell in 1996 by the current owner who then commissioned a two year rebuild led by Dykstra Naval Architects. Her length is 39.25 m; her beam is 6.55 m and her spinnaker sail area is 934.7 sq m.
J Class Yacht Racing
Velsheda has since participated in many regattas and has won in Saint Barths, Les Voiles de Saint Tropez and at Antigua, as well as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.
About the painting
This painting has been painted onto a premium stretched canvas. It was painted using professional New Masters Classic Acrylic paints by Old Holland — a company that has its origins with the Dutch Masters going back to the 17th Century. Old Holland are renowned for the purity and quality of their high-grade pigments. The painting has been protected with a specialized artist varnish. This painting has been professionally framed to Fine Art Guild standards.
Professional J Class Art
This fine art painting of JK7 Velsheda is based on a photograph I took of her during the J Class Regatta at Falmouth Bay, where she raced against JH1 Lionheart and J5 Ranger.
PAINTING DETAILS:
Title: Velsheda.
Medium: Acrylic on canvas.
Canvas size: 20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 x 2.1 cm.)
Frame size: 26 x 36 in. (65.8 x 91.3 cm.).
Frame: muted silver and white frame with a soft polished sheen.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
Painting Price: £11,500
Available: Direct from the artist. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing this painting.
Email: info@markwoollacott.com
Price includes UK delivery
How to Order This Painting
Ordering this painting is easy. Simply email me your contact details and let me know the title of the painting you wish to purchase (i.e. Velsheda) and I will email you an invoice so you can make your payment. Please supply your full name, address and delivery address (if it is different from your home address) email address and telephone number — these details will have to go on the invoice. I will also have to provide this information to the delivery courier, who will require this information from me in order to deliver the artwork to you.
Once I have received the full payment from you for the artwork, I will carefully package the painting (include its certificate of authenticity) and prepare it for collection by the courier. I shall keep you updated by email and let you know when the courier will be collecting the artwork from me, and I will also provide you with a tracking reference number, which will allow you to check the status of the painting on the courier's website once it has been collected from me. This number will provide you with up-to-date information while the artwork is in transit and en route to your address.
IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you, or someone assigned by you, will be at the delivery address to receive the artwork when it is delivered by the courier. The parcel containing the painting may require a signature on delivery.
Order the Art Print
Velsheda art print is available to buy online at Fine Art America. Choose from a variety of print sizes, select quality fine art papers, print types (e.g. paper print, canvas print, metal print etc.), and framing options to suit your home or style.
Fine Art America has been selling my art prints since 2014, and has been in business since 2006 and are one of the largest, most-respected online art sites in the world, with more than 500,000 independent artists, and deliver worldwide. Fine Art America has the largest print-on-demand fulfilment network in the world. They have sixteen manufacturing centres located in five countries. Each manufacturing centre can ship products to any destination in the world.
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Mark Woollacott is a member of Artists' Union England, the trade union for visual, applied and socially engaged artists www.artistsunionengland.org.uk
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