Gordon Bauwens'

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1951, Gordon Bauwens' deep passion for ships and their environment was clearly kindled by his proximity to the River Clyde. As a schoolboy, he could often be found cycling among the River's docklands and shipyards - birth place of many of the world's greatest ships. Early paintings based on these images won him gold and bronze medals in regional schools art competitions. He regularly cycled the 30 mile round trip to Clydebank to watch progress on Queen Elizabeth 2, the last great Cunarder to be built on the Clyde. Witnessing her launch in 1967 from the river bank opposite John Brown's Shipyard, left a deep and lasting impression - and a burning ambition to one day stand on those famous decks.

Employed by a marine engineering consultancy, Gordon's keen interest in ships helped him develop his own distinctive style in ship illustration, while gaining qualifications in technical graphics. Later, as a graphic designer for Education, he could clearly see the cranes of the former John Brown Shipyard from the studio he managed in Clydebank. Inspired by this, old passions resurfaced and Gordon started painting marine subjects again in his own time for pleasure, and as his work became known, on a commercial freelance basis. Encouraged by world-wide sales of his work, Gordon finally severed his 16 years of graphics employment in 1997 to concentrate full-time on his first love - maritime art. He and his wife, Christine, joined skills to become partners in their own business, GB Marine Art.

In his paintings, Gordon Bauwens has earned a reputation for combining atmosphere with meticulous attention to detail - qualities much sought after in maritime art. As a result, he has fulfilled many long-held ambitions and been honoured to meet some eminent personalities in the maritime world. These include becoming friendly with the late Sir John Brown, chief designer of the original Cunard Queens and former Managing Director of John Brown's Shipyard; being welcomed aboard QE2 on the Clyde by Captain Robin Woodall during the liner's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1994; staying on board Queen Mary as guest of the RMS Foundation in Long Beach, California; and having an original painting (Welcome Home QE2) purchased by the then Chairman of Cunard, Sir Eric Parker, for his personal office in London. Several examples of his work also hang in prominent positions in Cunard's head office. Reproductions of the artist's works have been purchased by customers in over 30 countries around the world to date, and currently retail on board QM2, QE2, Queen Mary, the former Royal Yacht Britannia etc, and in galleries and museums throughout the UK and overseas.

Gordon also undertakes commissions for both private and commercial clients. Shipbuilders and shipping lines use his work to publicise their planned new vessels. He regularly produces artist's impressions of ships before they are built, his technical background enabling him to work from naval architects' plans. In 2000, Gordon received a prestigious commission from Cunard Line to produce their official artist's impression of the Queen Mary 2, the largest and most expensive passenger liner ever built. QM2 also displays a set of large oil paintings by Gordon, commissioned for public areas including the Grand Lobby.

Gordon Bauwens' aim in his painting is to record some of the outstanding events in 20th and 21st Century maritime history and to pay tribute to the lives and skills which gave the world its finest ships.

On a personal level, the artist as a Christian gratefully acknowledges the supreme Creator God as the ultimate Artist, Designer and Giver of all life and skills.