Coble painting discovered in USA

Mystery surrounds the journey of an historic group of Filey cobles discovered in a flea market in Los Angeles and now at home in the office of a Washington DC lawyer. The boats are featured in a picture painted by West Ayton artist Peter Watson in 1984, commissioned by the then manager of the Filey branch of the Yorkshire Bank.

“At the time I was working as an art teacher at Filey School. I banked at the Yorkshire and knew the manager who wanted three paintings of Filey to hang in the bank. One was the cobles, quite a historic record as I believe the number of cobles has diminished since then, one was of The Ravine and I can’t recall what was the subject of the third picture, “said Peter, best known these days for his landscapes.

Ironically Peter and his wife Rita had just returned from visiting their daughter Dinah Shue and family, who live in New York State, when they had an email from Joan Grimson to say she had picked up the picture in an LA flea market and was delighted with it and planned to hang it in her husband’s law office in Washington. “I have no idea how the picture got to the States. I don’t know how much Mrs Grimson paid for it but I understand flea markets over there are more upmarket than those in this country. I guess she must have researched my work on the internet. There was another boat picture I did of Filey which I repaired and took prints from when it turned up at the Duggleby’s saleroom some time ago.”

“I am not sure how many cobles are left in Filey so this picture seems to be quite a historical record,” said Peter.

The coble is traditionally launched from the beach and is high bowed to deflect the crashing waves of a heavy sea. It is believed its design is based on the Viking Longship and it is a vital part of the colourful fishing history of Filey.