Cornish Artist John Dyer Launches Castle to Castle Swim Painting and Print

There are only 50 of them. Once they’re gone, that’s it.

Cornish artist John Dyer has launched a new original painting and signed limited edition print inspired by the RNLI Castle to Castle Swim, the open-water crossing that takes place this Saturday, the 23rd of May 2026, between Falmouth and St Mawes.

The artwork is titled ‘A Sea of Swimmers, Castle to Castle’. It captures the colour, energy and community spirit of the swim across the Carrick Roads, from Pendennis Castle in Falmouth to St Mawes Castle on the Roseland Peninsula.

A celebration of the swim

Known for his joyful, expressive paintings of Cornwall, John has created a celebratory image filled with swimmers, sea, boats, castles and the distinctive sense of movement that defines the event. The painting brings together Falmouth’s maritime character, the drama of the Carrick Roads and the charitable heart of the RNLI swim.

John said: “The Castle to Castle Swim is such a wonderful Falmouth event. I wanted the painting to feel full of life, with the swimmers, sea and castles all coming together in one uplifting image. It is a celebration of the RNLI, the courage of the swimmers and the beauty of this stretch of Cornish coast.”

The RNLI Castle to Castle Swim is one of Cornwall’s most distinctive charity sporting events, bringing swimmers and supporters together for a sea crossing in aid of the life-saving work of the RNLI.

Only 50 prints

The original painting is now available from the John Dyer Gallery, alongside a signed limited edition print of only 50 copies, each personally signed and numbered by the artist. The print has been released ahead of the swim so that participants, supporters and collectors can mark the occasion with a lasting piece of Cornish art.

The gallery is hoping the new painting and prints will appeal to swimmers taking part, families supporting the event, local collectors and anyone with a connection to Falmouth, St Mawes, the RNLI or open-water swimming.

Both the original painting and the signed limited edition print are available online with free global delivery. UK buyers may also be able to use 0% finance through Own Art on the original painting.

About the artist

John Dyer is one of Cornwall’s best-loved and best-known contemporary artists, celebrated for his vibrant paintings of Cornwall, the natural world and global environmental subjects. Born in 1968, he has built an international reputation for joyful, colour-filled paintings that capture not only how a place looks, but how it feels.

A long-standing Artist in Residence for the Eden Project, John is also an Artist for the Earth with EarthDay.org and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. His work has taken him from the Amazon rainforest to Costa Rica, Peru, the Philippines and Borneo. His paintings are held in public collections including Falmouth Art Gallery, the Eden Project and the NHS.

The John Dyer Gallery is a family-run online Cornish art gallery based in Falmouth, representing John Dyer, Joanne Short and Ted Dyer.