Boat Yard with Green Dinghy and Barn Suffolk Coastal Scene April 1994

Title: Boat Yard with Green Dinghy and Barn Suffolk Coastal Scene April 1994
By Tony Herbert (1927-2024)
signed lower right “Tony Herbert April ‘94”; unsigned verso
Medium: Watercolor on artists paper
Size: 11 x 15 inches
Condition: Good overall; minor corner wear and subtle warping to paper edge
Provenance: From a large private collection of this artists work, Oxford, England

Description: This signed watercolor by Tony Herbert captures the quiet order and working rhythm of a British coastal boat yard, likely located in Suffolk — a region central to Herbert’s long-standing plein air practice. Dated April 1994, the painting depicts a line of moored dinghies and working boats resting in dry dock alongside a low timber barn and outbuildings.

A bright green hull takes centre stage, drawing the eye into the middle of the scene. Beyond it, a scattering of blue, white, and ochre vessels appear nestled in the spring landscape, with barbed wire fences and patchy hedgerows leading the viewer toward distant rooftops and the suggestion of chimneys. The distinctive haze of East Anglian morning light is perfectly captured in the pale sky, contrasting with the richly painted foreground grasses and earthy pathways.

Collectors searching for “British boatyard painting,” “green dinghy Suffolk scene,” or “Tony Herbert signed watercolor” will appreciate the clarity and honesty of this composition. Herbert’s balance of precision and looseness is on full display, using dry brush technique and translucent washes to give structure without fussiness. The result is a deeply satisfying image of rural work, well-observed and full of atmosphere.

Ideal for collectors of East Anglian coastal art or lovers of vernacular maritime settings, this piece offers a contemplative view of place, marked by subtle movement and quiet human presence.