When the Navy Wings Swordfish arrived at RAF Syerston for the National Air & Space Camp, artist Tim O’Brien was waiting with his sketchbook, paints and easel.
Tim has now painted the Swordfish during its last two visits to Syerston, capturing not only one of the Royal Navy’s most iconic aircraft, but also the atmosphere, character and drama that surround it.
For Tim, however, working quickly and adapting to the environment is nothing new. His experience of sketching alongside the Royal Navy has taken him into some remarkable environments.
As he explains:
“With calf muscles tightened as my boots grip the deck, I push my sketchbook hard against my torso to keep it steady against the downwash from the rotor blades. Fixing my eyes on an Apache, I carry on drawing, honing my observational skills while remaining aware of everything happening around me. Then another scene catches my eye: personnel tethering a Chinook to the deck as HMS Ocean gently rolls in the swell of the Atlantic. Welcome to the world of sketching with the Royal Navy!
Whether sketching in the harsh environment of Cape Wrath or sitting inside a Sea King SAR helicopter flying low over the Cornish coastline, it is not always practical to set up an easel and paint en plein air. Sometimes speed is everything. On those occasions, I rely on a handful of pencils and pens, a sketchbook and a camera. Working in a military environment has taught me to adapt quickly, observe closely and capture a moment before it disappears.
Those sketches, scribbled notes, memories and photographs become an important record. They often contain details that a reference photograph alone cannot capture and allow me to bring greater realism and authenticity to a finished painting created later in the studio. In many ways, the sketches themselves can be more honest than a painting created for an office wall – they record what I actually saw and experienced.
Meeting the Swordfish
I first met the Navy Wings team at the 2025 National Air & Space Camp flying display at RAF Syerston, where I was able to set up my tripod easel and paint an oil sketch of the Swordfish. I only had around 40 minutes before the spectator area was cleared, so the painting was finished with a few final brushstrokes back in the studio. But it was long enough to make an impression.
Having previously spent several days sketching with 820 Naval Air Squadron at Culdrose, and learning more about their key role in the Bismarck story, it was a real privilege to finally meet the Swordfish up close. It is full of character – big, noisy and smoky when it starts. An aircraft seemingly from another age, it offers a glimpse into a bygone era and a reminder of the extraordinary crews who flew it into action.
There is something wonderfully British about the Swordfish. Perhaps that is why I love to paint it.
A dramatic return to Syerston
When the Swordfish returned to RAF Syerston in 2026, I was delighted that the team had managed to dodge the weather on its journey from Somerset to Nottinghamshire, while other participants, including the RAF Typhoon and USAF aircraft, were forced to cancel.
I took along some studies that I had started at the previous year’s show and only recently completed – two mixed-media drawings using gouache, watercolour pencils and ink. The Navy Wings crew soon spotted me and came over for a chat.
That is another reason I enjoy working with the Royal Navy: people are invariably approachable and genuinely curious about what I do.
Syerston’s flying programme had to adapt to the stormy conditions, with aircraft taking to the air during brief dry spells. For me, as an artist, it made the Swordfish display even more dramatic. The aircraft against a backdrop of dark, brooding clouds created a wonderful scene.
But as the weather closed in once again, the Swordfish bade farewell to Nottinghamshire and headed south towards clearer skies and home.
Perhaps one day I will follow it to Somerset – sketchbook in hand.”
Discover more
You can see more of Tim O’Brien’s work on his website and follow him on Instagram and LinkedIn at @timobrienart.
Tim will also be painting live at the Southampton Boat Show on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September.
