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Gallery Midnight

Worsley, Navigator

Worsley, Navigator

by Johny Midnight

Frank Worsley - frost-ravaged, unshaven, binoculars in hand - emerges from an abstract field of ice and frozen spindrift. Without him, the James Caird would never have found South Georgia.

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.

£250.00 GBP
£250.00 GBP
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  • Artwork Description

    Rendered almost entirely in stark monotone, this portrait has the haunting quality of a weathered archival photograph. Worsley stands in heavy Antarctic clothing - thick overcoat, fur-lined hood - holding battered binoculars in one gloved hand. His skin is wind-ravaged, his face unshaven, his eyes carrying the strain of impossible decisions. Around him, the background dissolves into abstraction: swirling powdered whites, charcoals, stormy greys and traces of icy turquoise suggesting spindrift or dark water. The hyper-real portrait against the abstracted world creates the painting's central drama: a man who remained the one fixed point while everything tried to swallow him.

  • Artist's Insight

    I wanted to show Worsley as the men would have seen him: exhausted but determined, worn by the cold yet unbreakable. The abstract background reflects the chaos around him, while his realism shows that he was the one true fixed point during the ordeal. Without Worsley, they would not have survived. He navigated across 800 miles of open ocean, in a 22-foot boat, without GPS or modern instruments, using a sextant and dead reckoning. And he found South Georgia. The painting is a portrait of skill and will in equal measure.

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.

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.

Discover more about Johny and Gallery Midnight

Blog posts

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