BELFAST.- Beat the September blues by travelling back in time and across the world on the greatest ocean liners: the Kenneth Shoesmith ‘Art of the Liner’ exhibition at the Ulster Museum. This breath-taking collection will delight art lovers and exotic travellers alike.

A respected member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and of the British Society of Poster Designers, Halifax-born Shoesmith served on ships from the age of 16. Travelling across the world, he would paint the maritime scenes and landscapes around him. In 1918 he began a career as a full-time painter and in 1936, at the pinnacle of his career, he designed and painted the murals for the luxurious liner, Queen Mary. He died age 48 in 1939.

Following the death of his widow in 1974, the contents of Shoesmith’s studio were bequeathed to the Ulster Museum, which is proud to present this fascinating exhibition capturing the golden age of the great liners, with atmospheric and detailed records of the ships themselves, and of the exotic worlds they travelled to.

At an event associated with the exhibition Glyn Evans, author of the book ‘The Maritime Art of Kenneth D Shoesmith’, will give a lecture on Wednesday 19 September at 1pm. Inspired by Shoesmith’s Conway and Mauretania on the River Mersey Glyn Evans started researching the artist. His book explores the life and work of the artist. Glyn Evans will illuminate Shoesmith's work as a poster designer who, in the 1920s and 1930s provided a continuous flow of artwork encouraging people to travel by rail and by sea. He will explore how the quality of the work has led to the recognition of Shoesmith's posters and other associated promotional and advertising material as works of art admired and collected around the world.

Kim Mawhinney, Head of Art, National Museums Northern Ireland, said: “The Ulster Museum is extremely fortunate to hold one of the greatest collections of Shoesmith’s work in the world. Although he never worked for the White Star Line, his paintings, posters and graphics are a stylish reminder of the age of Titanic.”