There’s an aspect to The Lifeboat Station Project that has truly warmed my heart — the fact that so many of you have felt compelled to buy a limited edition print for the very first time and, in the process, become an art collector!
The RNLI seems to touch people on so many levels. I’ve loved hearing your individual stories behind buying the prints; some of you have clearly been moved by the experience and have very personal reasons behind your purchases.
As I prepare to leave on the next mission tomorrow, I know there are many of you waiting with baited breath to see the photographs that materialise from the very special lifeboat stations I’ll be visiting in Dorset and Cornwall.
With that in mind, I thought it would be timely to offer three top tips on buying the prints from these pages to those who are yet to take the leap and discover the joys of a Project print arriving at your door.
You’ll find those tips below but, first, a little background…
LIFEBLOOD
Well over one hundred prints have been sold from The Lifeboat Station Project in these early stages.
That’s great news that they’re selling so well; to put it simply, print sales are the Project’s lifeblood.
In time there’ll be a book available but, of course, we can’t publish a book until we’ve made the work.
To put it another way, without the revenue from the print sales, there is no Project…
MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE RNLI
As a boy, I wanted to be a Photographer and a Lifeboatman so I’ve created a way of combining my lifelong passions.
The Lifeboat Station Project is raising an incredible amount of awareness for my favourite charity, the RNLI; awareness that is mainly being driven through social media along with incredible pieces in both the national and local press.
The RNLI have told me that the awareness alone is worth its weight in gold in helping the charity’s fundraising efforts. However, I am also giving them a very special contribution, something that only I can give…
Firstly, I donate Print No.1 from two of the editions to the station in return for their efforts — the crew photograph and the Coxswain/Senior Helm portrait.
Secondly, you may have noticed on the Limited Edition Print pages that I’ve written:
“As part of the production process, an Artist Proof is also made but is not for sale.”
The Artist Proof is the first print I make to ensure I’m happy with the photograph before releasing the edition of 50 prints.
Artist Proofs are often considered to be the most desirable facet to print editions and, therefore, the most valuable.
They’re not for sale through these pages for one simple reason — every single Artist Proof will be my gift to the RNLI.
Once the Project is complete in four years or so, I expect there will be around 1000 finished photographs.
So, the Project is not only creating a legacy around our coastline for the crew members themselves to enjoy but also an historical gift of great value to the RNLI as an organisation — as I see it, the ultimate unique contribution from The Lifeboat Station Project in the effort to help save lives at sea.
THREE TOP TIPS
So, now you have a little background, here are three top tips on buying limited edition prints from The Lifeboat Station Project:
TIP NO.1 | THE GALLERIES
It’s true, with 112 made to date, the number of photographs available from this site is growing rapidly.
Rather than browsing region-by-region through the Limited Edition print pages, pay a visit to the Galleries first, where you’ll find all the work neatly collated for a much more pleasurable viewing experience:
TIP NO.2 | EDITION NUMBERS
Generally speaking, the prints are available to buy from numbers 2 through to 50. However, RNLI Boathouse Views are available from print No.1 through to 50.
Single digit edition numbers 1 to 9 are usually considered to be the most desirable, so ordering or pre-ordering prints early is a great way to secure a low edition number for yourself or, indeed, a friend or loved one.
Teddington RNLI started a new trend by individuals ordering edition prints that matched their crew numbers, a trend that has carried on around the coastline ever since!
Pre-order Penlee PrintsPre-order Poole PrintsBrowse Limited Edition Prints
TIP NO.3 | SAVE £30 PER PRINT
On every page, you’ll see there’s an opportunity to save £30 per print by committing to purchase any three Project prints — that’s a £90 saving in one purchase!
These can be existing images or ones that have yet to be made.
If there’s a lifeboat station or location that particularly strikes a chord, this is both a great way to secure an early edition number for yourself and to support the Project.
You’ll find the buttons on every page to buy or pre-order a Collection of Three Prints but the bottom of this page is perhaps the easiest place to begin:
BONUS TIP | CLUB TOGETHER!
Following on from Tip No.3, I have one more for you:
Feel free to club together with others to place an order of three prints, saving £30 on the individual price.
For example, RNLI crew members might find this option particularly attractive.
So, there you have it — four tips in total to help you with the decision-making process.
I hope it’s helped and, remember, you too can experience the joys of a print being delivered to your door…
Great to see all your plates to date in the galleries Jack, looking fantastic!