Windjammers were the greatest of the 19th and early 20th century merchant sailing ships. With their distinctive rigging and multiple sails, these giants plied the seas on ultra-long voyages, ferrying cargoes around the world.

How appropriate then, that professional marine artist Stephen J. Card should choose the Windjammer II gallery for his first one-man exhibition in many years.

"When the new Windjammer II opened a year ago I could visualise the gallery filled with marine paintings," Mr. Card said. "It has taken a year to plan and execute, and here we are."

Entitled 'Paintings from the Great Era of Steam and Sail', the exhibition features 18 works depicting a range of ships from the earliest vessel, the Bermuda-built 1788 schooner Ant, to the latest, the Holland America Line's Veendam arriving in Hamilton in July 2010.

One painting is goache on paper, while the other 17 are either oil on canvas or oil on panel. Also included is a giclée limited edition print of the Spirit of Bermuda. (Giclée is a process whereby fine art prints are made from a digital source using ink-jet printing).

As those familiar with Mr. Card's work will know, his marine paintings are meticulously and accurately executed, right down to the last detail — so much so, in fact, that his talents are internationally recognised, and he is regularly commissioned to produce paintings for the offices and vessels of some of the world's most renowned shipping lines.

Over 19 years the Bermudian artist has produced paintings for Holland America Line vessels, and 30 paintings over three years for the Cunard Line, including the Queen Mary 2, and most recently a 40 by 60-inch painting of the old Aquitania outbound from Southampton in 1934 for the new Queen Elizabeth.

Earning a reputation of this stature is no accident, and Mr. Card revealed just how much advance work was required before he even picks up a brush.

"An intimate knowledge of the vessel to be painted is a 'must'," he said. "In effect it is a portrait, no different from a portrait of a human, or a dog or cat. For a newbuild, the owners will supply a set of plans, and there is also some discussion with the naval architects and interior designers.

"For historical subjects, it is a matter of doing the research on background, and then referring to any plans that are available, and collecting sufficient photographic reference material.

"Some of this research may take several days, to ensure that the ships are painted in the correct colours, and that the image is of the correct period. Sometimes a very simple detail might be required which can take hours to research."

It can take Mr. Card anywhere from three or four days to a month to complete a painting, depending on its size, and he sometimes works on two or three pieces at the same time, perhaps painting one piece in the morning, working on drawings in the afternoon, and doing research in the evening.

While he would love to paint 'plein air', the nature of his subject matter does not lend itself to working out of doors.

"In any case, air conditioning, a cup of tea, and other creature comforts make the day enjoyable," he smiled.

Mornings were "most definitely" the artist's favourite time to begin painting, and once he got started he said he could keep going all day.

If, on the other hand, he made a late start, he felt the day was wasted, and therefore found it "hard to get going".

On such occasions he found his time was better spent doing research.

Asked when and where he had previously shown his work in Bermuda, Mr. Card said, "I was honoured to show my work in the old Heritage House Gallery, and I also exhibited at the old Windjammer Gallery, but the last time was about 2002."

• 'Paintings from the Great Era of Steam and Sail' opens to the public today, and continues through November 25. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For further information telephone 295-1783.

• Hand-carved Bermuda cedar models of the Spirit of Bermuda and the Pride of Baltimore by artist Milton Hill are also included in this exhibition.