Original framed whale painting by iconic Cornish artist Steve Camps.

Dimensions (including frame): 134 x 76cm

 The proceeds from the sale of this painting will go towards a project that is working to research and protect one of the world’s rarest shark species: the megamouth shark.  

 Megamouths are a unique species of shark. They are very large, reaching 4-7m, with a giant mouth from which they get their name. They are filter feeders, meaning they feed by filtering tiny prey from the water using their gills. They are one of only three filter-feeding shark species, out of over 500 species of shark, alongside the basking and whale sharks.Unlike the other large filter-feeding sharks, megamouths inhabit the deep sea, and they are also special because of their rarity. Unknown to science until 1976, megamouths have had fewer than 300 reported sightings since – of which only 41 were seen alive.

 Over half of the global sightings have occurred in Taiwan, when megamouths have been caught by fisheries as they seasonally migrate along the eastern coast. Since 2020, fishing megamouths has been made illegal, meaning if they are caught they must be released. This catch ban may seem like a conservation success, but a local shark scientist, Bee Smith, has spent the last few years researching it, and has found that this is far from the truth. In 2023, she spent several months in Taiwan conducting investigative interviews and in 2024, she went out on shark fishing boats to observe the catch and release process – during which she saw three megamouths, tagging them and taking tissue samples for genetics research. She has uncovered that this catch and release policy is ineffective at protecting megamouths.

 This year, Bee will return to Taiwan to continue her efforts to protect megamouths from the fishing pressure they face in the region. She will also be collaborating with fishers to attach camera tags to megamouths that are caught and released, withthe goal of recording video footage of them feeding. This is something we have never seen due to the rarity of sightings of live megamouths, and so we do not yet understand the mechanism by which they filter feed. Scientists debate whether they ram feed (swimming with their mouths open, like basking sharks), suction feed (generating pressure to draw in water, like whale sharks), or engulfment feed (taking in large gulps, like baleen whales). This will be ground-breakingresearch, and the hope is that solving this mystery will generate momentum for further research. This is important, because due to the limited research on megamouths, we still have many questions about their basic biology, and it will be crucial to answer questions about their age-and-growth and movements in order to effectively protect them from fishing.

 By purchasing this painting by Steve Camps, you will not only own an incredible piece of art, but you will also be supporting Bee’s mission to advance our understanding of theenigmatic megamouth and ultimately, to save it.

 For further information about Bee’s project, please email beelovesthesea@gmail.com.

Steve Camps was born in Cornwall in 1957, and worked as a builder for most of his life. Although always having had a passion for collecting vintage art and frames, it wasn’t until his retirement in February 2023 that he decided to turn his own hand to painting.

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With an existing interest in antiques and painting, Camps began to experiment with imagery of whales: creating an array of entrancing scenes. With their beautiful muted colours, and each one carefully framed from Steve’s own collection, the result is a magical combination of traditional style, and unmistakable character.

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“I always liked collecting old items from fairs and car boots, and was especially drawn to paintings. After a while I started to collect art: buying in auctions and wherever I could find it.

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I think the first whale painting was after I just retired from building, and on holiday I bought two 1950s watercolours from a charity shop in Carmarthen, Wales. They were of whaling ships, which I thought was an unusual subject. I decided to paint a whale, put it into an old frame, and sold it online for a few quid. So I started to paint more and do the same. I was so surprised when a few months later Sailors Jail contacted me to exhibit them, but I think it’s great that so many people like my paintings.’

Since the beginning of 2024, Steve's story and paintings have now gone viral, with celebrities and art dealers clamouring to get hold of them, and values increasing by more than 10x in the space of a few months.

Please note that each piece is hand painted  and framed by Steve himself. All frames are either handmade by Steve, or taken from his own incredible antique/ vintage collection. These are not perfect items so there may be some marks, scratches, dents or chips in either the painting or frame, but this is what adds to their charm. 

This sale is for the item only. The artist/ Sailors Jail retain all reproduction rights. 

Delivery (Digitally Printed Products)

Our digitally printed products (eg. prints, t-shirts, tea towels and cushions) are printed on demand by one of our worldwide print partners, and shipped directly to you. Production time is approximately 3-5 business days, plus 3-5 days for delivery.

Delivery (All Other Products)

We aim to dispatch items within 2-3 business days using either Royal Mail or DHL recorded delivery. Delivery times are approximately 2-3 business days in the UK, 5-7 business days in Europe, and 8-10 business days worldwide.

Refund Policy

If you are a UK customer and are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us within 14 days of receiving your item. We will be happy to provide you with a full refund or exchange, minus any delivery charges. Please note that original artworks, products printed to order, or any sales from outside of the UK, are NOT eligible for returns/refunds.

All items must be returned to us in its original condition and packaging. We reserve the right to refuse a refund or exchange if the item is not returned in its original condition. The buyer is responsible for return delivery costs.