THE OFFICIAL PAINTERS OF LE FRANÇAIS

A community of dedicated painters and photographers who tell the story of Le Français through their artwork, their unique perspectives and their emotions. Discover how they capture the spirit of the ship and the life of the sea.

FEATURED ARTIST: RAMINE

A storyteller of maritime memories, Ramine brings seafaring legends back to life using found materials such as antique charts, reclaimed shipwreck timber and forgotten manuscripts. His lighthouses, ships and sailors, with their dreamlike forms, create poetic worlds that invite the viewer’s imagination to complete the story. Based in Brest yet inspired by ports around the world, he embarks on new journeys to enrich his artistic palette with the realities of the sea, transforming history into vibrant, colourful dreams.

MEET OUR OFFICIAL ARTISTS

Jean-Benoît Héron

An engineer turned illustrator, Jean-Benoît Héron uses drawing to explain, inspire and move. Inspired by the great illustrated encyclopaedias of the past, he brings remarkable precision to maritime storytelling. His award-winning books, published by Glénat, are visual journeys in which every detail tells a story. His refined style bridges technical accuracy and imagination, combining precision with the poetry of the sea.

Ramine

A storyteller of maritime memories, Ramine brings seafaring legends back to life using found materials such as antique charts, reclaimed shipwreck timber and forgotten manuscripts. His lighthouses, ships and sailors, with their dreamlike forms, create poetic worlds that invite the viewer's imagination to complete the story. Based in Brest yet inspired by ports around the world, he embarks on new journeys to enrich his artistic palette with the realities of the sea, transforming history into vibrant, colourful dreams.

Marine Chevanse

Her work explores people and communities that often remain unseen, particularly those whose skills, gestures and expertise go unnoticed. Through immersion and direct encounters—especially within maritime and sporting communities—she observes everyday gestures, collective dynamics and overlooked places, collecting the stories of the people who bring them to life.

Jean-Pierre Arcile

A true architect of the maritime spirit, Jean-Pierre Arcile distils reality to reveal its essence. A watercolourist turned oil painter and an Official Painter of the French Navy since 2012, he captures the light dancing across hulls and the quiet elegance of seafaring gestures. His discerning eye catches the movement of a sailor, the flight of a bird and the changing light of the sky. His virtuosity is always guided by subtlety and restraint.

Marie Détrée

Born in Saint-Malo into a family of seafarers, Marie Détrée has painted the world's oceans since being appointed an Official Painter of the French Navy in 2010. From Antarctica to the Arctic, her brush captures the light on the water and the movement of ships. Gouache remains her preferred travelling companion, following in the tradition of the great marine painters who came before her. A Knight of the Order of Maritime Merit, she transforms every voyage into a vibrant visual story.

Ewan Lebourdais

Through his lens, Ewan Lebourdais captures the raw beauty of the maritime world. From majestic sailing ships to nuclear submarines, he reveals both the soul of the vessels and the dedication of the men and women who serve at sea. Appointed an Official Painter of the French Navy in 2021, this acclaimed photographer exhibits his work in galleries and has published books recognised by the French Academy of Marine. His images uncover the poetry hidden in steel and sea spray.