1963 Watercolour of Salcombe Harbour Devon with Boats, Estuary and Hillside View

Title: 1963 Watercolour of Salcombe Harbour Devon with Boats, Estuary and Hillside View
By Tony Herbert (1927-2024)
Medium: Watercolor on artists paper, on board
Size: 13.75 x 19 inches
Condition: Good; gentle ageing consistent with age, minor foxing spots visible across sky area
Provenance: From a large private collection of this artists work, Oxford, England

Description: This charming 1963 watercolour captures the timeless serenity of Salcombe Harbour in South Devon, a beloved coastal town renowned for its natural beauty and maritime character. The artist offers an aerial perspective of the estuary, where dozens of small boats float gently across rippling waters under a hazy summer sky. The gentle rolling hills of South Hams frame the scene, painted in soft greens and ochres, while a whitewashed house nestled along the right-hand shore adds a touch of human presence.

Marked on the reverse with “Salcombe 1963, Devon No. 14”, this evocative painting is typical of mid-20th century British watercolour practice — loose, confident brushwork meets a romantic handling of light. The boats, rendered in delicate whites, reds and browns, are typical of the small fishing and sailing craft seen in South West England’s historic ports.

Salcombe is a sought-after holiday destination and sailing haven, and vintage depictions of the town and estuary are highly collectible — particularly for those with family connections to Devon, the English Riviera, or fond memories of coastal summers. While unsigned, this piece is clearly the work of a skilled amateur or semi-professional artist with a keen eye for both composition and atmosphere.

A perfect addition for collectors of British coastal art, Devon seascapes, or nautical watercolours, this piece also works beautifully in holiday homes or interiors inspired by the English seaside.