Wanderlust on canvas

Jun 29 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Wanderlust on canvas

TED Walker’s working life has been inextricably caught up with the romance of sail. The pursuit of his art as one of Britain’s finest portrayers of ships and seascapes in oil has taken him all over the world from his north Liverpool home.

Yet nothing sums up his talent better than his commission to paint one of the longest tall ships in the world, the Spanish four-masted topsail schooner, Juan Sebastian de Elcano, practically on his doorstep.

The schooner was on the Mersey for the end of the Tall Ships’ Race Grand Regatta Columbus, in 1992, as shown here.

She was painted as a gift for King Juan Carlos I, of Spain, who, with his consort Queen Sophia, were guests of honour at this momentous event, celebrating the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America.

This tall ship had particular resonance to the king as, when a young man, he served as a cadet aboard the ship, which is based in Cadiz - the start of the 1992 race.

After the presentation to the king, Ted asked a royal aide how the painting was received by his majesty, who was by now back aboard his old ship.

The courtier replied: “When I left His Majesty, he had it propped up in his cabin. He was just gazing at it with his head resting on his hands.”

However, one matter is certain: you don’t have to be royal to appreciate Ted’s fine art, as his paintings speak out to anyone with an inkling of sea fever, or romance, or wanderlust in their soul.