Fishing Trawler in Black

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A characterful naïve style contemporary painting depicting a fishing trawler moving steadily across softly cresting waters, executed in oil onto panel by British artist Matt Rix.

The vessel sits confidently against a muted sky, its twin russet sails raised and a pale plume of smoke drifting from the central funnel. The scene feels both purposeful and serene – a working boat captured in a moment of quiet passage.

Rendered in a distinctive naïve style, the composition embraces flattened perspective and simplified geometry. The trawler is reduced to bold, clearly defined shapes, with rigging drawn in fine linear accents and the hull marked crisply with its identification number. The sea is arranged in rhythmic horizontal bands, suggesting motion without disrupting the calm symmetry of the composition.

The palette is restrained and harmonious. The deep black hull is offset by a clean cream stripe, while the warm, earthy brown sails introduce richness and balance. Cool maritime blues define the water, layered in soft tonal shifts with pale white highlights tracing the wave crests. The sky is painted in chalky greys, punctuated by gently stylised clouds that enhance the painting’s storybook charm.

Brushwork is smooth and deliberate, with flat, even applications of colour strengthening the graphic clarity of the vessel. Subtle texture is visible in the sky and sea, adding quiet depth while maintaining the work’s decorative simplicity.

This oil on board is presented in a dark wooden frame with a inner gilt border. Both painting and frame are in excellent condition.

British artist Matt Rix spent his childhood in South Africa and now lives with his family on a small holding in rural North Wales. His paintings are uncomplicated, modernist representations influenced by primitive and naïve folk art from times past. Many of the subjects Rix paints are inspired by the animals he sees from day to day. Rix uses recycled materials including discarded paints, boards, frames and backing paper. Much of his work is therefore produced using waste materials resulting in sustainable paintings that evoke a time-worn, nostalgic essence.

To view the other paintings in this collection, click here.

Size: 31.5 x 37.5 (including frame)

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