Sunderland cards fly high
Splendid images of iconic Sunderland flying boats by Welsh aviation artist Tim Jenkins are flying high as greetings cards.
Tim, from Felinfoel, near Llanelli, has generously donated examples of his aviation art to the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust and two images have been turned into cards which are now on sale.
The Trust runs the very successful Flying Boat Centre in Pembroke Dock’s historic royal dockyard and is planning to recover the remains of a wartime Sunderland which sank off the town 70 years ago.
Tim is an Associate member of the prestigious Guild of Aviation Artists and exhibits annually in the Guild’s summer exhibition in London, along with other west Wales-based members.
His paintings now available as greetings cards depict a moonlit Sunderland and two of the famous flying boats over Caldey Island, Tenby. Both link to No 201 Squadron, one of the most famous RAF units to be based at Pembroke Dock flying boat station.
“There has never been a real Welsh aircraft and the nearest must be the wonderful Sunderland which had such long connections with Wales through Pembroke Dock,” said Tim. “They are among my favourite of all aircraft types, like a beautiful white swan.”
Tim has always been keen in drawing and has painted in earnest for 12 years, many of his subjects being aviation related, through the medium of pastels and oils.
“I am delighted that the Sunderland Trust is able to use my paintings to raise funds for its fascinating project,” added Tim.
* The greetings cards, in packs of ten incorporating both images, cost £3.99 and are available at the Flying Boat Centre, Port of Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6TD
Caption
Tim Jenkins shows examples of the greetings card with an original painting, ‘Cruising Over Caldey’, behind. With Tim is Mike Hurley, volunteer workshop supervisor at the Flying Boat Centre, Pembroke Dock.
Picture: Martin Cavaney Photography.
