Royal Excursion by Matthew Hillier ~ Offering the viewer a unique vantage point, Matthew Hillier’s extraordinary paintings always express the artist's passion for his subjects. Born in England, the artist's vacation last summer included an unforgettable stop during the bicentennial celebrations of the Battle of Trafalgar, resulting in Royal Excursion: There were ships from the world’s navies as well as a flotilla of tall ships and smaller yachts from around the world, all converged on Portsmouth Harbor, UK. The tall ship in the foreground is HMS Royalist (a royal navy cadet training ship). The aircraft carriers in the background are from France and the USA. The distant hills are, in fact, the Isle of Wight. It really was a very special day. - Matthew Hillier