The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
David Shepherd paints the Ark Royal
Oil on Canvas as David Shepherd’s Ark turns into wind with decommissioning looming.
In partnership with:
Overview
TV's Mike Whitmarsh sails up the Tamar with artist David Shepherd who is putting the finishing touches to his painting of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, moored up and awaiting decommissioning. The Ark, turning into wind and 850 first edition prints are to be sold for charity at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset. The Audacious-class aircraft carriers were in operation from 1951 until 1979.
Rear Admiral Anson was the last captain of HMS Ark Royal and the first to see the finished painting. An aircraft carrier turns into the wind in order to launch aircraft but the reference is also to the decommissioning. British artist and conservationist Shepherd is famous for his paintings of wildlife and steam locomotives as well as portraiture. Shepherd invested in steam locomotives by buying The Black Prince and The Green Knight and is known for painting scenes for the now defunct British Railways. Shepherd was involved in founding the heritage steam railway, the East Somerset Railway and Cranmore Station has a gallery displaying his works. He is president of the Railway Ramblers.
Related
Watch for free
Stranded Ketch on Tamar Stranded Ketch on Tamar
News 1964 1 mins Silent Location: River Tamar
A Ketch named Wake in dug out of the mud and refloated.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.