Essaouira (pronounced 'essa-weera', or 'es-Sweera' in Arabic) is Morocco’s main fishing port located on the Atlantic coast.  In 2014 I visited Morocco, using Marrakech as my base. During my stay, I rented a car for 3 days and used it to visit the High Atlas Mountains and also Essaouira, where I had a most enjoyable day exploring the old city.  The city dates back to pre-historic times and the current fortified port dates back to the 18th Century and contains numerous narrow alleyways and an extensive souk.

When I visited, the harbour had numerous docked fishing boats of varying sizes and a bustling fish market selling a wide variety for seafood from numerous small outdoor market stalls. There was also a boat yard with several boats undergoing repairs. When I arrived a large blue fishing boat was being hauled out of the water.  Once it was secured on the ramp, a team of workers dressing in waterproofs swarmed around the boat scraping barnacles and dirt off the hull. It looked like hot and dirty work.  I immediately knew that I wanted to paint this scene and took numerous reference photographs that formed the basis of this painting.

I also noticed that my favourite dog, Oscar had found his way in the boat yard and was intently watching the activity.

Fishing Boat Repairs, Essaouira, Morocco

by Richard Harpum MA

Size of original: 16" x 20" (41cm x 51cm)

Acrylic on Canvas

Painting Reference Number: 194

Price of the Original:

• £2,650 (framed)
• £2,520, US$3,530*, €3,0230* (unframed)

Prices of Limited Edition Prints (numbered, signed, unframed):

• Studio Proof** canvas print (full size); Edition size 25: £220; US365; €275 + shipping
• Giclée print*** on 300 gsm paper (full size): Edition size 50: £110; US$182; €138 + shipping
• Giclée print on 300 gsm paper in 12x16" (30 x 41cm) double mount; Edition size 200: £37; US$61; €46 + shipping

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* Prices in US Dollars and Euros are those used by the artist but may vary depending upon the prevailing exchange rates and the method of payment.

** A Studio Proof canvas print is a giclée print on canvas that is hand-embellished by the artist using the same medium as the original painting (usually acrylic), signed, numbered and then coated in 3 layers of UV-resistant varnish. It is then mounted on stretchers ready for framing.

*** Giclée printing is an advanced form of ink jet printing that applies a wide range of coloured inks that are designed to be light-fast for at least 75 years.