Grace Darling and the fine art of saving lives at sea is a lecture by Dr James Taylor, which will be the next event for the Arts Society Isle of Wight.

Darling’s daring rescue of steamship passengers off the Northumberland coast in 1838 brought her international fame.

Discover more about her bravery and short life (she died aged 26) and the artistic contribution that has helped to keep her in the public eye.

Grace became the ‘poster girl’ of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and was the first woman awarded their medal for gallantry.

This talk coincides with the commemorations to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the RNLI in 2024.

James Taylor studied at the Universities of St Andrews and Manchester, and is a former curator of paintings, drawings and prints, and co-ordinator of various exhibitions and galleries, at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, also lecturer and ships' historian on board cruise ships. 

The lecture is on Tuesday, January 9, at 2pm, at Northwood House, Cowes.

There are places for visitors at all lectures for £10 per person but booking must be made in advance to info@theartssocietyisleofwight.org.uk  

Most lectures are now also broadcast on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person.