Walberswick Riverbank with Moored Red and Blue Boat Suffolk Coastal Watercolor

Title: Walberswick Riverbank with Moored Red and Blue Boat Suffolk Coastal Watercolor
By Tony Herbert (1927-2024)
signed lower right “29.7.97”; unsigned verso
Medium: Watercolor on artists paper
Size: 8 x 11.75 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 bright and dynamic watercolor by Tony Herbert captures the colourful charm of the Walberswick riverfront on a breezy July day in 1997. A red and blue working boat sits quietly moored along the River Blyth, framed by grassy marshes and wildflowers in the foreground, with clusters of black sheds and cottages lining the opposite bank. The composition bursts with life and movement — darting brushstrokes of yellow ochre and olive green suggest windblown reeds, while thickly applied sky washes reflect East Anglia’s ever-changing weather.

Walberswick, a storied Suffolk village known for its plein air painting tradition and proximity to Southwold, has long been a magnet for artists. Herbert’s connection to the region was both personal and painterly, and this work exemplifies his ability to marry accuracy of place with expressive energy. The clouds are rendered in purples and blues that drift across a broken sky, casting soft shadow onto the river’s surface.

Collectors seeking “Walberswick painting,” “British riverboat watercolor,” or “East Anglian marshland art” will find this a standout work. The inclusion of date and Herbert’s confident signature further enhance its appeal. The warm red boat hull draws the eye and anchors the scene — a subtle focal point in a landscape defined by movement, texture and light.

Ideal for coastal homes, collectors of British marine painting, or anyone with fondness for Suffolk’s riverine landscapes, this painting balances looseness with compositional control.