About the Book and the Author

 
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philip Walwyn (1947- 2015) had a long history with the islands of St Kitts and Nevis. From 1790 the Kittitian estate of Mount Pleasant had been home to his family. His first book More Rain More Rest, contains personal stories of island life and the days of sugar, providing a unique insight into past Caribbean times.

Philip was a man of many talents; inn keeper, boat builder, trans-Atlantic sailor and an adventurous and skilled yachtsman. He was a shy and deeply practical man. A respected mentor of craftsman on land, a respected captain at sea. Courageous and refusing to follow a conventional path in life, his second book, Pointlessly Good Looking, is his much-anticipated autobiography. His life was truly a remarkable one, but it was Philip’s career as a dedicated and internationally acclaimed yachtsman, that takes over his life story. His love of all vessels on the sea prevailed throughout. Pointlessly Good Looking reads as a love story. In his own words, he tells his story through ten yachts he owned and loved.

 In 2015 Philip Walwyn died from a heart attack a few miles off the coast of Cornwall England. He had almost completed his 17th transatlantic crossing from Nova Scotia to Falmouth England. It was an arduous solo voyage in his yacht “Kate”, a racing 60 ft. yawl without an engine. Philip wanted to set a precedent which he hoped would be an inspiration to other sailors - to return to the simplicity and beauty of sailing. The twists and turns of his own life were more complex and, some have said, film worthy.

 A talented wordsmith, Philip left extensive writings and notes. His books have been edited with the “lightest possible touch” to preserve his voice and retain his wry humour.

On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living - that we have henceforth to fulfil the promise of our friend’s life also, in our own, to the world. 

Henry David Thoreau

ABOUT THE ARTIST 

Calling St. Kitts home for decades, Kate Spencer is a prolific artist and paints from her home studio at Mount Pleasant - above the village of St Pauls in St Kitts - and from her atelier studio in Ortigia, Sicily. 

She draws inspiration from both the landscapes and the people around her. With her exuberant personality and imagination, use of strong colours and a whimsical flair Kate has created a diverse body of captivating paintings. 

Self Portrait

“I enrolled in a small studio in Florence, Italy and was taught classical drawing and oil painting. This was a great basis as I started experimenting and developing different styles. Then, I met my wonderful husband, fell in love and followed him home to the island of St Kitts where his family had lived for 200 hundred years , to a small wooden plantation house surrounded by sugar cane, banana trees, mango trees and monkeys. My eyes popped with the intense colour, strong silhouettes, drama, wildness, and danger everywhere. This was pure magic for a painter. Living in the Caribbean I re-tuned my skills and developed the style you see today.” 

Kate has personally chosen the images that appear in Philip’s two books. These are available to order as prints from this website and can be shipped worldwide. 

For a wider selection of prints and original artwork please go to www.katespencerfineart.com

Email:katespencerfineart@gmail.com

Instagram:katespencerfineart.com

In St Kitts & Nevis, Kate’s works and prints are available from The Indigo Egret Gallery, Charlestown, Nevis.