H. M. S. Active (Original)

Artist: John S Smith
Medium: Watercolour and Pen & Ink on Card
Size: 12" x 17" (300mm x 420mm)
Code: SmithJSHMSActive

This is the unique original Watercolour and Pen & Ink painting by John S Smith.

This is a very rare original cigarette card artwork by John S. Smith in pen & ink and watercolour, featuring two iterations of HMS Active, including the F171.

Produced by Mardon, Son & Hall of Bristol, who were famous for dealing with the art and printing of the cigarette trade. The business flourished after being set up in the Victorian era and was able to employ the best artists available.

The detail and quality of their work is incredible. A team of artists would work for several months producing up to fifty hand painted pieces centred around a certain theme and then present it to the client, often Wills Tobacco company who would then authorise the reproduction.

So few of the original illustrations for cigarette cards exist that this is a must have for nautical and cigarette card enthusiasts alike.

John Stephen Smith (1921 - 2010). John started drawing from an early age and went to art school just prior to World War II when he was called up and joined the Royal Navy. He served on the Cruiser HMS Niagara on the Malta and Russian convoys. After the war he continued his art studies and career. His work has been commissioned by most shipping companies and railway companies and his art has been used by many leading publishers in the UK and USA.