Once described as “one of the county’s most underrated artists,” William Mitchell from Maryport painted detailed scenes of the town’s harbour.
The glimpses of Maryport Harbour in the 1800s show vast steam-powered vessels and tall ships entering the port as well as a tide ball mast next to the lighthouse.
While the lighthouse still stands, the tide ball mast is a forgotten relic of the town’s history, used in the 1800s to indicate the water level to incoming ships.
A striking painting, found in the Shipping Brow Gallery, shows a large steam ship entering Maryport Harbour with the tide ball mast indicating high water.
Dolly Money, trustee of Shipping Brow Gallery said: “Several of our paintings have featured in books about Maryport’s maritime heritage, including one about the Hine shipbuilding brothers and one about the Wood Shipyard on North Quay.
She said: “The paintings are part of a permanent exhibition and we have hosted a number of school visits. Children have enjoyed using magnifying glasses to find details like dogs fighting and cows swimming to shore from cattle boats.”
Other works of art by William Mitchell include familiar buildings from around Maryport, including the former Queen’s Head Inn at the bottom of Shipping Brow, which has hosted the art gallery since 2023.
Shipping Brow Gallery also features the work of Workington-born artist Percy Kelly, born in the 1900s, his work showcases familiar West Cumbrian landmarks such as Christ Church, just across the road from the gallery.
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The gallery is benefitting from the links to be made in Maryport’s thriving cultural scene.
Gallery manager, Charlotte Stephenson said: “There’s a really good community here for art, people are generous with their knowledge.”
Over 5,000 people visited the gallery in the last year.
In addition to artists of old, the gallery aims to provide a platform to the rising stars of Cumbria’s arts and culture scene.
An open call was launched in January, urging Cumbrian artists to apply for the chance to exhibit in the gallery throughout summer and autumn of this year.