Gallery Midnight
Casting Off
Casting Off
by Johny Midnight
Eight of Shackleton's men wade through freezing Antarctic surf, pushing the James Caird into open water. The 800-mile voyage to South Georgia begins beneath a heavy, purple-tinged sky of impending hardship.
Original for sale £20,000 | contact gallery
Limited edition fine art prints, hand-signed and numbered by the artist. Once the edition is sold out, it will not be reproduced.
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Artwork Description
Turquoise and grey waters surge around the legs of eight crewmen bracing against the freezing surf. The James Caird sits low in the water, painted in muted greys and whites that echo the sepia of an old photograph. Above, a heavy sky layers storm grey with the faintest tinge of purple, dense with cold and impending hardship. In the far distance, snow-capped peaks mark the almost unimaginable destination. Midnight's abstraction gives the scene perpetual motion - a moment of collective courage caught between shore and the open Southern Ocean.
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Artist's Insight
A tribute to courage in the harshest environment - men walking into freezing surf, pushing a tiny boat toward 800 miles of unknown waters. I worked from imagination here rather than photography. The colours and abstraction give a sense of cold, shock and determination. Eight men in a 22-foot sailing boat, facing the most ferocious seas on earth. The snow-capped peaks in the distance are both a destination and a taunt - so far, so impossible.
Original Artwork Information
Artwork year created: 2023
Original artwork size: 90 x 75
Original artwork medium: Oil on canvas
Original artwork status: Available for sale - £20,000
Print Details
Gallery Midnight limited edition fine art prints are available in A2 and A3 sizes. Edition sizes vary depending on the artwork.
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Edition Details
- A3 Limited Edition of 100
- A2 Limited Edition of 100
- Printed on archival matt fine art paper
- Hand-signed and numbered by the artist
- Certificate of authenticity included
Framing
Framing is available exclusively through the gallery. As framing is a highly personal decision and depends on the setting in which the artwork will be displayed, we prefer to discuss framing options directly with collectors. Please contact the gallery to arrange framing for your print.
Original paintings are typically presented on stretched canvas and do not require framing.
Please contact the gallery for framing advice or to arrange framing
Shipping
UK Delivery
Limited edition prints are dispatched via Royal Mail and typically arrive within 3–5 working days.
- Free UK delivery on orders over £250
- £5.99 delivery for orders under £250
International Delivery
We also ship internationally via Royal Mail.
- Europe: £10
- Rest of World: £15
Delivery times for international orders may vary depending on destination and local customs processing.
Packaging
Limited Edition Prints
All limited edition prints are carefully packaged in protective cardboard tubes to ensure they arrive safely and in excellent condition. This method protects the artwork during transit and allows the print to be professionally framed once received.
Original Paintings
Original paintings are typically collected from the gallery or arranged for delivery separately. Please contact the gallery to discuss shipping options for original artworks.
Returns
Please view our returns policy here
About the Artist
Johny is a painter and founder of Gallery Midnight in Balham. His work is often described as “abstract on reality”, capturing familiar landscapes, seascapes and city scenes with expressive colour and movement. Influenced by a life spent between London, the Alps and the Caribbean, his paintings explore changing light, atmosphere and energy, inviting viewers to see well-known places in new and unexpected ways.
Blog posts
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Battersea Power Station Art: Why I Keep Coming ...
Battersea Power Station art has become a defining series for Johny Midnight - bold, graphic paintings that explore atmosphere, structure, and the presence of one of London’s most iconic landmarks.
Battersea Power Station Art: Why I Keep Coming ...
Battersea Power Station art has become a defining series for Johny Midnight - bold, graphic paintings that explore atmosphere, structure, and the presence of one of London’s most iconic landmarks.
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Why Skiing Artwork Sits at the Heart of My Work
Skiing artwork is where it all began for Johny Midnight - from a wooden shed in Chamonix to paintings that capture movement, scale, and the feeling of being high in...
Why Skiing Artwork Sits at the Heart of My Work
Skiing artwork is where it all began for Johny Midnight - from a wooden shed in Chamonix to paintings that capture movement, scale, and the feeling of being high in...
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The Shackleton Endurance Collection: Why I Devo...
Johny’s fascination with polar exploration led him to create the acclaimed Shackleton's Endurance Collection - a year-long project inspired by the 2022 discovery of Endurance by marine archaeologist Mensun Bound. Drawing...
The Shackleton Endurance Collection: Why I Devo...
Johny’s fascination with polar exploration led him to create the acclaimed Shackleton's Endurance Collection - a year-long project inspired by the 2022 discovery of Endurance by marine archaeologist Mensun Bound. Drawing...
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