Growing up in Bermuda's marine environment, Stephen Card developed an early fascination with ships and the sea.

A visit to the New Zealand Shipping Company vessel Rangitane at age 11 cemented what has become a lifelong interest in, and passion for, passenger ships and shipping.

Joining the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps in 1966, Mr. Card was sent on two training trips to the UK, the first as a deck boy on the Cunard liner Franconia, and the second at the Royal Navy Gunnery School, HMS Excellent, in Portsmouth, England.

In 1970, Mr. Card joined the Glasgow firm of J & J Denholm (Management) Ltd. as a navigating cadet on board the bulker Naess Pioneer, and for the next five years served on various ships in the fleet, ranging from tankers and bulkers to gas-turbine container ships and oil/bulk/ore carriers.

During this time he also attended the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, and sat examinations for Mate (Home Trade), Second Mate (Foreign Going), and Mate (Foreign Going).

In 1975, he was appointed Second Officer on the reefer Loch Lomond's maiden voyage, and subsequently became the Chief Officer on the Loch Lomond and Loch Maree.

After successfully sitting his Master (Foreign Going) examination at the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, Captain Card joined the London firm of Uiterwyk Lines (UK) Ltd. in 1981.

In 1982, he was appointed master of the general cargo vessel Pyramids U; became a member of The Nautical Institute (MNI), and then returned to Bermuda as the Queen's Harbour Master.

In his spare time, he pursued his old hobby of sketching and painting. Following his return to sea, a chance meeting with the chairman of Holland America Line led to a commission for three paintings for his Seattle office.

So successful was the project that Mr. Card was actively encouraged to pursue his interest in painting and drawing so much so, in fact, that he decided to come ashore permanently and become a professional marine painter. The rest is history.

The artist's many commissions include paintings for Cunard, Holland America Line, Carnival Corporation, and Saga Shipping, and his work is also found in corporate and private collections worldwide.

In addition to his art, Mr. Card is also the author of the books: 'Holland America Line, The Spotless Fleet' and 'Cunarder, Maritime Paintings", and co-author of 'Queen of Bermuda and the Furness Bermuda Line'.