An exhibition and silent auction of prints and artwork by Carel Toms opens today.
The majority of the exhibits reflect the Bailiwick’s bygone fishing industry with watercolours and drawings of coastal locations, alongside framed portraits of fishermen including members of the Gaudion, Le Prevost, Girard, and Sebire families, including one man known as ‘pig killer’ and a lady selling ormers.
The photographic prints used to be on display at Mora restaurant and have been donated for auction by Nello and Della Ciotti, with proceeds going to the local branch of the RNLI.
Mora closed in 2022 after 15 years serving food inspired by the Bailiwick, the Brittany and Normandy regions of France, and Dorset and Cornwall in England. Locally caught seafood was prominent on the menu.
Speaking at the exhibition opening, Marco Ciotti said the subject of one of the portraits, Wilfred Gaudion, and the other subjects were well known seafarers during the Occupation and post-war decades.
Guests would frequently recognise the fishermen in the portraits, said Mr Ciotti, adding that Mr Gaudion dined in Mora beneath his own photograph.
The exhibition is part of the ‘Les Gens d’la Maïr — The People of the Sea’ project, which launched with a maritime festival in June.
Further events and projects are expected to follow, celebrating the ‘old boys of the sea’ whose work shaped Guernsey and the food eaten by generations.
The Sula Gallery at L’islet is hosting the exhibition over the next ten days with silent bids being accepted for the artwork and framed photographs, benefiting the local branch of the RNLI.
Carel Toms
Carel Toms worked at the Guernsey Press for around 50 years as a writer and Features Editor.
He photographed the Bailiwick in his work and as a pastime, and painted local scenes and published books of local stories.
His final published work was the book ‘St Peter Port, people and places’, released shortly before his death in 2002.
After his death, Mr Toms’ family donated a vast collection of his photographs to the Priaulx Library.
The photographs are available to view at the Priaulx Library and it also licenses the use of its photographs for publication, broadcast or display.
