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Singapore’s National Stadium
and doesn’t degrade under UV. Ben says the “climatic envelope” technology
“just took off.” “It was tremendously exciting; we were
working with the best architects, designers and artists in the world – these gods of art and architecture, Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas and the like.” Ben now owns the historic Dolphin
Boatyard, situated in a secluded creek around the corner from his riverfront home. He aims to restore the yard to its former glory. As well as recently receiving planning
permission to quadruple the size of the marina from 25 berths to 75, Ben aims to step up the boatbuilding side of the business. Dolphin Boatyard and the former Gibbs
Boatyard on the other side of the creek boast a long tradition of boat building, having built some 300 trawlers for the Brixham fishing fleet between them over a 100 year period. “The goal is to preserve the skills of classic
boat builders and artisans in the South West, because that is all being chipped away,” Ben said. “Many of the waterside properties are being
developed as des res which destroys where work happens and stuff gets made. We need dirty places as well as clean places. “We have permission to put in a big shed to build and refurbish boats. It’s really exciting.” The yard will be the perfect place to
maintain Ben’s 50-year-old classically designed Swan 55 yawl yacht, Lulotte.
Dolphin Marina is owned by Ben.
The Eden Project Another of the iconic buildings around the world that Ben has worked on.
“I bought her 15 years ago in the Caribbean and now I’ve
brought her here to the River Dart,” he said. “I sail her a lot, we’ve done a number of Fastnets and last year we won the Swan Cup in the Middle Sea Race.” Boatbuilding and the sea runs in Ben’s veins. “I think I was
knee high when I saw the sea, and I just walked into it. I love it. There’s something very primal about it. “I’ve always made things too. My mum was an artist and
my dad was an architect, who when he retired, ended up becoming a boat builder on the east coast.” The couple will be surrounded by water when their water mill is up and running, which suits them both. Keen swimmer Jacqueline, whose dual aspect studio will
also overlook the mill wheel, said: “A huge part of my work is observation of the water and its changing nature according to the tide, the wind, the season. “It draws me in the whole time, it is a huge part of my life and obviously, when the wheel is going to be on as well, I am going to be surrounded by water. “People often ask “how can
“It draws me in the whole time, it is a huge part of my life and obviously, when the wheel is going to be on as well, I am going to be surrounded by water.”
you get any work done, you must get distracted by the view of the river the whole time?” but actually it’s become the body of my work, my source of research. I would sacrifice space any day just to have a view.”
Jacqueline’s exhibition will run at Coombe Gallery from Friday October 21st
to Monday November 21st . “The initial body of work for the exhibition coincided with
lockdown and has evolved since then. We are so, so privileged to live here and day in, day out I was conversing, talking to my subject matter. There was no deviating or procastinating, I was face-to-face with it, eyeballing it.”• For more information visit
www.jacquelineduncan.art and www.
coombegallery.com Jacqueline’s exhibition is open to the public 10am Friday 21 October 2022 (private view is on Thursday 20 October 6 - 9pm). Exhibition ends Monday 21 November 2022. For Ben’s boatyard visit
www.dolphin-haven.co.uk
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