‘Queen Anne’s Revenge' by Dan Hollings

The painting derives from a variety of ideas and motifs. Queen Anne’s garden is a local spot in Falmouth, which I walk past on a daily routine hike, as well as Queen Mary’s garden. Both gardens are filled with meditation shrubbery and florals, which slip into the work haphazardly from taking in the surroundings. Gonorrhoea, hydrangeas, and Lobelia, ‘Queen Victoria’. A running theme of Queens.

While living on the coast in both Cornwall and South Wales, I have noticed an ever-present sight of ships during walks. And Falmouth hosts a variety of sea-approved events, ‘Sea Shanty Week’ and ‘Tall Ships Week’, a highlight in the town’s rich history. Falmouth and its harbour flood with historic tall sailships and pirate vessels, and people fancy dressing up as privateers, pirates, and all things nautical.  Wales itself is also rich in privateers, with Bartholomew Roberts ‘Black Bart’ and Sir Henry Morgan growing up a stone’s throw from me in Wales. And over the 7 bridges in Bristol, Edward Teach (Thatch) is most well known as Blackbeard. The man himself commandeered a flagship and renamed it Queen Anne’s Revenge’. Which has heavily influenced the piece.

Oil, pastel and oil stick on canvas.

123W x 153H cm

2026