How many works of art does Clarendon Fine Art have at sea? 

Clarendon Fine Art has up to 350 artworks onboard each of its galleries across Cunard and P&O Cruises’ fleets. These collections are carefully curated to ensure a diverse and engaging experience for guests. To that end, the ‘Must-See’ pieces will vary from cruise to cruise and ship to ship. Perhaps it could be an exquisite original oil painting of a herd of elephants by Pip McGarry, maybe an original pencil drawing from L.S. Lowry or a signed Banksy piece. 

What makes a cruise ship a great art gallery? 

Cruise ships provide a unique setting for fine art, offering guests an opportunity to explore and appreciate artwork while travelling the world. The relaxed and luxurious environment encourages guests to engage with the artwork at their own pace. Additionally, seminars and events led by our expert art consultants create an immersive and educational experience that enhances guests’ appreciation of the collection.

How do you curate the ship’s collections? 

The curation process is a collaborative effort involving the UK-based team and onboard gallery managers. Collections often reflect a dynamic mix of iconic artists like Salvador Dalí, Damien Hirst, and L.S. Lowry, alongside contemporary talents such as Mr. Brainwash, Tom Butler, and Fabian Perez. Finding new artists to become part of the Clarendon Fine Art portfolio is an exciting journey of discovering talents from both the UK and overseas. 

We have a UK-based team that will scout for artists as well as our gallery teams recommending artists that could be a part of our portfolio. Our onboard gallery teams then have significant input into the selection of artworks that they will have on display. Each work is individually selected by the gallery teams, in collaboration with our merchandising teams in the UK, to ensure that there is an eclectic and show-stopping display onboard each of our ships. Typically, our gallery teams will change a section of the gallery daily which gives our guests a reason to come to the gallery every day and see what has changed, something they certainly enjoy doing.

How do you get the artwork out to the ships?

The logistics of getting the artwork out to ships, many of them heading off on world cruises and seasons out in Alaska and the Caribbean is certainly a full-time job. Our fantastic teams in the UK do an incredible job of working with the cruise lines directly to make sure that our artwork arrives onboard on time and in pristine condition. Artwork has previously travelled as far as Aruba in the Caribbean or Busan in South Korea to join our ships.

Have there been any mishaps with transportation?

The phenomenal planning that our logistics team can put into getting the artwork to our ships on time is still at the mercy of Mother Nature. On our recent world voyage, we were due to receive a new delivery of artwork in San Francisco but, due to some unfortunate weather at sea, the ship that was due to deliver the artwork to us couldn’t dock in San Francisco on time, so the artwork ended up arriving the day after Queen Anne had sailed away! Our teams leapt into action to try and route the artwork to our next major destination which was Brisbane, Australia. All was on track…. until Cyclone Alfred played its hand across Queensland and the ship couldn’t dock there. Fortunately, the artwork was successfully routed to Darwin where we picked it up. It felt like Christmas Day when we eventually laid eyes on the missing artwork!

How often does a work of art sell onboard a ship?

Typically, there will be multiple sales every day onboard our ships which could range from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars each. Our diverse portfolio means cruise passengers will frequently find pieces for their collections.

By purchasing an artwork onboard a ship, guests can acquire something that is personal and heartfelt but also binds all their travel memories into a beautiful and tangible item in their home.

Buying a piece of art can be a life changing experience for many. People who didn’t think they ‘should be enjoying art’ come to realise that they have as much right to enjoy art as anyone else does. This often leads to a love of collecting and seeking out the next great work for them to hang on their walls. 

What happens after a cruise passenger purchases a work of art? 

This is where our dedicated client services and logistics teams come into play again. Once a piece of artwork has been sold onboard a ship, they calculate when the next time the works can be sent back to the UK (often in Southampton but sometimes further afield) to be quality checked by our framing department. The framing process is completed by hand by our artisan framers in the UK using materials sourced from the finest manufacturers found across the world.

Once this has been completed the artwork is packaged to an incredibly high standard, enough to remain in immaculate condition for international travel, and will be sent to client homes globally.

This process can take as little as a week for UK orders or up to around eight weeks for some orders. There will be exceptions to this, of course, such as a piece travelling on a world voyage to be part of an artist in attendance exhibition.  

Do you have artists sail onboard?

Witnessing an artist at work our ships is an unforgettable experience and one that, for many, will be a highlight of their time onboard.

Our artists enjoy being onboard as it gives them an opportunity to spend time with their collectors for a longer period than they normally would. Multiple days rather than hours like they would in the UK.

We have had many tremendous live painting shows. From Sherree Valentine Daines painting the Captain, or Jared Kruger bringing the underwater world to life in front of everyone, to Philip Gray painting whilst physically in the pool! Works created in these live shows will sell almost every time as it’s a special way to own a work of art – how often can you hang something on the wall that a world-renowned talent has started painting before your very eyes?

How do you ensure artwork stays safe? 

We have to take careful steps to ensure the safety and security of our artworks onboard the ship, especially in anticipation of changeable weather. Artworks are carefully installed using specialised mounting systems to prevent movement during rough seas. Our staff are trained in securing and protecting valuable pieces and a full-time security team is also onboard each of our ships to protect the guests, crew and the ship herself. 

What’s been your most memorable sale?

I have been fortunate to have so many clients that have found artworks that move them and create that personal connection; it’s one of the great joys of my job watching this happen.

From artworks that remind them of special places, to memories of time spent with loved ones. Perhaps one though that stands out to me is a client and now dear friend, who purchased an original painting by Fabian Perez. It was a gorgeous study of hands coming together in celebration with glasses of wine. Fabian is known for his use of light in his works, and in this case, there were three flashes in the sky above the glasses. Our client resonated with this piece as she has three children, and the lights reminded her of them alongside memories of her husband who she unfortunately lost. 

It’s always fascinating to me how different people interpret and connect with a painting in a way that is unique to only them. Our experiences of life affect our experiences of art and, because of that, our like or dislike of a painting is intensely personal.