Woodbridge Tide Mill with Thames Sailing Barge Suffolk River Scene

Title: Woodbridge Tide Mill with Thames Sailing Barge Suffolk River Scene
By Tony Herbert (1927-2024)
Signed: Botton right
Medium: Watercolor on artists paper
Size: 11.25 x 15.25 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 features the iconic Woodbridge Tide Mill on the River Deben in Suffolk — one of only two tide mills in the UK still producing flour. To the right, the red-roofed mill itself stands tall on the waterfront, accompanied by a moored Thames sailing barge with distinctive brown sails and rigging. To the left, a larger converted granary building forms part of the riverside architecture, likely repurposed for residential use in modern times.

The crisp reflection of buildings and boats on the placid water, alongside the pale sky and soft washes of earthy browns and grey-greens, perfectly captures the serene rhythm of life along the Deben. Herbert’s command of both architectural precision and loose water-based techniques is on full display — from the fine rigging lines to the expressive, granulated foreground and tonal shadows beneath the barge.

Collectors searching online for “Woodbridge Tide Mill painting,” “Suffolk riverside watercolor,” or “British maritime heritage artwork” will immediately recognise this subject’s historic and regional value. The Tide Mill, with its rich industrial legacy and picturesque setting, is a favourite among artists and tourists alike, making this work particularly desirable to those with connections to East Anglia or an interest in British coastal architecture.

Signed and with excellent clarity, this piece stands out as one of Herbert’s more compositionally refined river scenes, suitable for collectors of maritime art or traditional English watercolors.