To mark their hosting of the Turner Prize in 2023/24, Towner Eastbourne commissioned four contemporary artists (Emily Allchurch, Jo Lamb, Charlotte Prodger and Mark Titchner), to create responses to some of Eric Ravilious’s best loved images of Newhaven from their collection, in a project called Following Ravilious – Newhaven Views, which took place during August and September 2023.
Reproduced at a giant billboard scale, the contemporary artworks were displayed alongside reproductions of the Ravilious paintings, in a free public art trail around the harbour and town, creating a dialogue between Newhaven’s past, present, and future and exploring its intersecting marine, rural, and industrial landscapes
Allchurch’s piece, Return to Port (after Ravilious), is a recreation of Eric Ravilious’ 1935 watercolour Channel Steamer, Leaving Harbour. The bright cabin lights and billowing steam from the ship’s funnel in the original painting add excitement, and a wonderful anticipation about the voyage ahead. The port of Newhaven, and the ferry itself, has naturally been modernised in the intervening 90 years, but Allchurch’s interpretation of the scene today aims to capture the same drama, witnessing the arrival of the Transmanche ferry, having completed its similar crossing from Dieppe.
A framed C-type print of Allchurch’s Return to Port (after Ravillious) was acquired by Towner Eastbourne for their permanent collection in 2024.