John Freeman - "The Launch"

A night-time launch of the lifeboat Zetland from Redcar beach in the early 1800s.

In 1802, the fisherfolk of Redcar heard about an unsinkable boat which a Mr. Henry Greathead of South Sheilds had designed and built for the purpose of saving lives at sea. One of these original lifeboats (later named the Zetland) was purchased and the fishermen themselves formed the crew. Her normal crew consisted of 10 oarsmen, 2 steermen, a bowman and 2 reserves. In very bad conditions, if the oars were double banked, her crew numbered 23. She quickly earned a reputation of being a safe and very seaworthy craft with many innovative ideas built into her; she self-drained, possessed copper ballast tanks and for bouyancy she had a cork collar fitted round the gunwales. In her 78 years of service she lost only one crewman, Mr. William Guy, who was swept overboard on Christmas Day in 1836.

Henry Greathead is credited with building 31 unsinkable boats. The Zetland is number 11 and is the only survivor of the originals.

John Freeman has created several such studies of historic events. His ability to combine historic detail and great atmosphere result in paintings which have considerable initial impact and much detail to hold and feast the eye.

Five hundred signed limited edition prints have been produced - one for each life saved by the Zetland.