12 - 21 November 2026
Opening Night: Thursday 12 November, 6 - 8pm
Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th November, 11am – 6pm
Wednesday 18th - Saturday 21st November 11am – 6pm
“Drawn from a collection over 15 years this exhibition has been prompted by the current restoration of my wooden boat “Myoora” which I have used as a floating studio to access the harbour’s waterways from any angle. These paintings are a chance to see a glimpse Sydney Harbour as it was, in its full diversity, as a waterway for commerce and recreation.”
– Rowan Fotheringham
Working with various media including charcoal, oils, pen and ink and watercolour, Rowan explores his response to the experience of being on and around the harbour, recording shipping movements, feeling the breeze and watching the dancing reflections of light on water.
Artist Rowan Fotheringham is undertaking a survey of the artwork he has created from his passion for Sydney Harbour, boats and sailing. Drawn from a collection made over 25 years it has been prompted by the current restoration of his wooden boat “Myoora” which he has used as a floating studio to access the harbour’s waterways from any angle.
Working in pen and ink, watercolour, gouache and oils he has responded to the experience of being on and around the harbour, recording shipping movements, feeling the breeze and watching the dancing reflections of light on water.
He caught the last years of the “gritty end” of Sydney Harbour’s “Working Waterfront” west of the bridge with its workboats, shipping, wharves and cargo handling. Of particular appeal were the character vessels such as the tugboats and commercial fishing boats.
Unfortunately much of the working waterfront activity of our once bustling port has vanished as shipping activities have been relocated away from Sydney and the docklands have been resumed for apartment development.
Next came chasing the vintage skiffs sailing in regattas around Cockatoo, Spectacle and Snapper Islands. These small boats powered by huge sail area and handled by skilful crews raced as they did in the last century against the backdrop of the industrial islands off the Balmain shore with their cranes and old buildings.
The culmination of his waterborne artistic journey was his work inspired by a season crewing on an Etchell that took him under the bridge up to the top end of the harbour, to sail in the strong nor’easters against the iconic backdrop of North Head.
Much of the work from this period has not been exhibited before. It features some more abstract paintings that aim to show the feel of sailing.
This exhibition is a chance to see a glimpse of Sydney Harbour as it was, in its full diversity, as a waterway for commerce and recreation.
Nor’Easter_Sydney Harbour
oil on canvas
112.5cm x 101.5 cm