A new art exhibition at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall was opened by the featured artist, Ian Heard.

The exhibition, running until June, features a selection of original watercolours and prints of working craft around the Cornish and Devonshire coastline. A highlight of the exhibition is a newly commissioned painting of a 19th Century Gorran Haven Crabber, being built in Fowey, and based on the only remaining craft of her type. The building of the sprit rigged 16 footer will help to ensure a continuation of Cornwall's maritime history with the painting being auctioned later this year.

Cornish artist and designer Ian Heard grew up in his family's boat yard on the River Fal. He studied illustration in Cornwall, before moving to Oxford to pursue a career in design and advertising. Later he established his own studio in the Cotswolds where his work was commissioned by many corporate clients and leading publishers.

He returned to the south west in 1993 where he continues to work as an illustrator, graphic designer and print maker.