‘Fruitful Harvest III’ A4 print

Description

Signed fine art giclée print

One for fans of marine art or fishing boat art, I painted this interesting close up of the Fruitful Harvest III after coming across it moored in Bideford. I was interested in the jumble of equipment on the deck, the scratches in the paintwork and the rusty items, all of which must have stories to tell.

It also interested me that the name of the fishing boat had been removed and was tucked away on the deck – a good way to identify the boat without painting it in its entirety.

With a little bit of digging on the internet, I discovered that the Fruitful Harvest III was built in 1976 by James Noble of Fraserburgh. First registered in Peterhead, it then went on to be registered in Aberdeen, Buckie and Grimsby – which would account for the other part of the sign on the deck, slightly hidden, saying ‘Grimsby’.

Having been a fly-shooter and a trawler, it most recently became a pleasure boat (which means what, exactly, I’m not sure…), and I’ve found reference to it being in Falmouth harbour in 2021.

Interestingly, Fruitful Harvest featured on the TV show ‘Trawlermen’ – I haven’t been able to quite work out if it was this exact boat, or Fruitful Harvest I or II! Apparently Fruitful Harvest II sank…

My research lead me to discover that in 2010, the Fruitful Harvest III was rescued by coastguards, in 45 knot winds gusting to 60 knots, and a swell of 6 metres. With four people on board, she had lost power on two pumps. A helicopter brought a replacement pump, and she was towed safely back to Grimsby.

Last thing I knew, she was still in Bideford. Who knows what’s in store for her next. It was fun capturing this little piece of her history.

This is an A4 print.

If you’re looking to add to your collection of North Devon scenes, please see my The Skern Mudflats, Pebble Ridge at Sunset, Still Water to Instow and many other prints.