Stories from the Sea
An exhibition of maritime paintings and the stories hidden within them
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre’s art collection contains a library of epic maritime tales!
The museum art collection contains many paintings featuring real fishing vessels from throughout Grimsby’s history. These paintings can help tell us about the lives of the men at sea, and for their families waiting for them at home. They can unlock stories of the personal struggles and sacrifices which turned Grimsby into the world’s premier fishing port.
This exhibition features paintings, researched and curated by our collection volunteers. Local creative writers have produced fictionalised audio plays based on the history of the ships shown in the paintings. These have been performed and recorded by voice actors. These performances help us understand the human stories behind Grimsby’s famous fishing heritage.
The exhibition was created as a tribute to those who lived and worked on these vessels. The curators, writers and actors understand and respect the real events which inspired this exhibition. We remember the bravery and skill of generations of trawlermen, and the thousands that sailed from our port never to return.
Click on an image below to find out more about the paintings and hear the monologues.