Turtles in the Sand
Ebanks’ work reflects his status as a self-taught artist, who like Miss Lassie only began working later in life. The child-like simplicity of his work lends it an innocent, timeless quality, representing scenes of traditional maritime industry (such as sailing and turtling) that speak to the experiences of an older generation of Caymanians who made their livelihoods from the sea.
About the Artist
Harvey Ebanks
1921–2012
Harvey Ebanks was a seaman and World War II veteran who began painting at the age of 75, having been moved after his retirement “to draw old-time things.” A self-taught artist, he painted predominantly from memory, capturing scenes of Cayman’s dwindling turtling industry and maritime heritage. His work was exhibited at Carifesta XII (Haiti, 2015) and is in the permanent collections of NGCI and the Cayman Islands National Museum.