A long-lost painting of the Teignmouth Electron has been acquired by the Crowhurst family after being unearthed in a shed garden shed.

The artwork, which depicts the trimaran, Teignmouth Electron, and sailor Donald Crowhurst, was painted by Noel Nathan while the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race around the world was underway in 1969.

Donald Crowhurst’s ill-fated attempt to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe on board the Teignmouth Electron was the subject of the film, The Mercy. Starring Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz, many of The Mercy’s scenes were shot in Teignmouth and the film premiered at Teignmouth Pavilions in 2018.

Noel Nathan’s painting of the Teignmouth Electron was displayed in the theatre’s foyer at the same time but had not been seen since.

However, when Teign Heritage Centre archivist and researcher Rosemary Booth spotted a reproduction of the painting in a book about the Teignmouth Electron by Tacita Dean, she was intrigued. She approached Teignmouth historian Viv Wilson MBE to see if they could track down the original.

Viv got in touch with Noel Nathan’s son, Ian Nathan, a well-known artist based in Shaldon, who unearthed the painting in a shed.

When Simon Crowhurst, Donald Crowhurst’s son, heard that the painting had been found, he expressed an interest in buying the original artwork and made a generous donation to Teignmouth Arts Action Group (TAAG). The funds will be used to contribute to the development of work spaces on the upper floor.

‘Ian is currently preparing for his first exhibition at TAAG and was pleased to know that a largely forgotten piece, completed over half a century ago will nestle in the bosom of the family and become an heirloom for its descendants,’ remarked Viv.