Artist: Nancy Bailey
Title: Fishing Boats St Ives
Medium: Oil on canvas
Edition: Original, One of a kind
Artwork Dimensions: 75cm x 50cm (29.5" x 19.5")
Frame Dimensions: 89cm x 64cm (35" x 25")
Condition: Image: Good. Frame: Good.
About the artwork
Set in the storied harbour of St Ives, Nancy Bailey’s Fishing Boats captures a moment of quiet industriousness along the Cornish coast. The central vessel, marked “BA.61,” anchors the composition with three figures engaged in their daily routines, surrounded by a flotilla of smaller boats gently mirrored in the still water. Bailey’s palette knife technique lends the scene a tactile richness—each stroke echoing the textures of weathered wood, rippling reflections, and salt-worn hulls. The backdrop of waterfront buildings situates the viewer in a working port, steeped in tradition and maritime rhythm. This piece exemplifies Bailey’s gift for portraying the dignity and atmosphere of coastal life with both realism and expressive depth.
About the Artist
Nancy Bailey (1913–2012) was a British painter celebrated for her textured palette knife technique and evocative maritime scenes. Born in Par, Cornwall, Bailey began her creative journey through photography, capturing West Country landscapes for postcards before turning to painting in midlife. Eschewing brushes entirely, she developed a distinctive style using only a palette knife, layering oils to convey the grit and motion of coastal life. Her subjects—fishing boats, harbours, and beachside labour—reflect a deep connection to Britain’s working shores. Bailey’s work has appeared at major UK auction houses, with collectors drawn to her rugged compositions and authentic depictions of maritime industry. She painted actively until age 90, leaving behind a legacy of bold, tactile storytelling through paint.
