The famed Velsheda is the subject of this impressive oil painting by John Steven Dews, an artist widely regarded as the greatest living marine painter. The maritime master's legendary eye for detail permeates the canvas, from the precise rendering of the sailboat’s riggings to the dynamic movement of the waves and sea. The grace and speed of Velsheda is beautifully captured as the ship “beats to windward,” one of the most demanding tasks for the sailor.

Velsheda is one of the most legendary racing yachts in the world. Designed by Charles Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholson in 1933, she once represented the most advanced technical design for a vessel of her kind with features such as light-weight aluminum masts and sails made from new Terylene threads. In her second season alone, Velsheda won over 40 races, competing against some of the greatest racing boats of their generation, including Brittania, Endeavour and Shamrock. Amazingly, Velsheda is still sailing. She was restored in 1984 by Terry Brabant and was later bought by her current owner, Dutch businessman Ronald de Waal, in 1999. This remarkable vessel is dutifully captured in all her glory by Dews, whose skill at photorealism is fully on display.

Born in Yorkshire in 1949, Dews learned his trade at the Hull Regional College of Art after being turned down as a candidate at numerous naval academies. He turned to art to express his love for the sea, eventually building a sizable enough portfolio to mount his first exhibition in 1976. An astounding success, nearly the entire collection was sold on opening night, and Dews received 17 new commissions. Ever since his blockbuster opening, Dews has enjoyed remarkable success and critical acclaim, earning numerous prestigious commissions and awards to this day as one of Britain’s most sought-after living artists.