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The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, one of the oldest charities providing financial support to former seafarers, is officially launching its ‘Celebrations of the Sea’ exhibition at Brighton Sea Life Centre today (20 October), marking the world’s first photography exhibition underwater.
The unique exhibition, sponsored by canned seafood manufacturer John West, will tour living aquariums across the UK and features celebrities and every day people photographed carrying out their ‘day job’ but underwater.
Celebrities and personalities including TV presenter and historian Dan Snow, TV chef Mitch Tonks – one of the leading seafood chefs in the UK, TV wildlife presenter Ellie Harrison, world champion cliff diver Gary Hunt, UK surfing champion Tassy Swallow and world renowned yachtsman Mike Golding OBE all feature in the exhibition, which is designed to showcase Britain’s reliance on the sea and those who work within the maritime sector.
All images in the exhibition have been produced by acclaimed marine photographer and TV Producer Kate Westaway, who in her career has pictured everything from the rarest marine life in waters across the globe to high profile stars including Angelina Jolie.
The exhibition opens to members of the public on 21 October 2011 at The Brighton Sea Life Centre - the world’s oldest operating aquarium – before touring Sea Life Centres across the UK. It will showcase the images submerged in tanks alongside living marine life including rays, conger eels and wolf fish.
Dan Snow, TV presenter, broadcaster and historian said: “I wanted to take part in the exhibition for two reasons – to support a fantastic cause and because I’d seen some of Kate’s earlier images of seafarers which are inspirational. Hopefully visitors will not only be interested in the variety of professions showcased, but will also make donations to help those mariners who have given so much and are now in need of our support.”
Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society Chief Executive, Malcolm Williams added: “Celebrations of the Sea’ is a unique and tremendously creative project which aims to honour the maritime industry’s unsung heroes. These include the fishermen who brave the UK’s stormiest seas, to traditional lobster pot makers who keep precious fishing traditions alive and our most talented chefs who turn the fish caught out at sea into the nation’s favourite dishes.
“We are delighted to have worked with a photographer of Kate’s calibre on this project and are delighted to unveil the exhibition today. We’d also like to thank our sponsors and supporters, John West, CEVA Logistics and Sea Life Centres, without whom the exhibition would not have been possible.”
Over 95% of all Britain's imports and exports are still transported by sea and the £37 billion UK maritime sector directly employs over 250,000 people - more than aerospace and agriculture combined. All donations generated from the exhibition will go to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society to support the UK’s retired and impoverished seafarers in times of financial hardship.
In the last 12 months alone, 2,644 former seafarers across the country benefited from grants from the Society totalling over £1.5 million but help for this vulnerable community is very much in demand, particularly in the current harsh economic environment.
The exhibition will move from Brighton onto Sea Life centres in Weymouth, Birmingham and Blackpool before ending in Scarborough in December.
A limited number of signed celebrity images are available to buy on EBAY by searching for ‘underwater photography’.
Sponsor John West is one of the UK’s leading brands in canned fish, trading in 38 markets throughout Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, North and South America. The company has been braving the elements to bring the country delicious, healthy, premium quality fish for over a century and is proactive in improving on-board conditions for fishermen.
John West is one of the UK’s leading seafood brands whose fleet of ships has been out in all weathers since 1857, catching only the finest wild fish. Today, they still fish the world’s oceans with their own fleets and fishermen which gives them an immense understanding of the difficulties faced by fishermen and the industry.
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