HMAS Supply (ll)
Whilst serving on the HMAS Hobart Geoff painted HMAS Supply (ll). He captured HMAS Supply in watercolour whilst alongside Fleet Base East.
The painting was given as a gift to members of Supply (ll). Their response was:
“Thank you, Geoff, for your wonderful gift. We are truly honoured. The watercolour will be hung in the Junior Sailors Cafe to be viewed by all.”
- About Geoff Anthony
Geoff is currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy as a Marine Technician/Senior Hull Maintainer. He has always painted and is a watercolour artist and member of the Australian Society of Marine Artists.
He has served on HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Hobart and HMAS Brisbane.
Geoff is mainly self-taught but in 1997 he attended weekend classes at Julian Ashton’s in Sydney and during that time spent twelve months sketching and painting around the City of Sydney. which led to two solo exhibitions in Newtown and a shared exhibition in Enmore in 1998.
Geoff sketches a scene and then refines his composition before painting. His sketches help capture the structure of ships and harbour scenes with technical precision. Geoff said “I’ve been painting and drawing since longer than I remember. It’s one of those things I’ve always done.” Painting has helped to keep him level-headed and grounded.
Geoff primarily works in watercolour, a medium he chose for its difficulty and expressive potential. He uses wet-on-wet technique which involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface, allowing colours to bleed and blend organically. Ideal for depicting stormy skies, ocean spray, and fluid movement in water scenes. The wet-on-wet technique enhances the emotional depth and atmospheric realism of his paintings.
His time in the Royal Australian Navy deeply influences his subject matter. Paintings often feature naval vessels like HMAS Choules, HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Hobart and others. These works reflect both technical accuracy and emotional connection to life at sea.
Geoff has exhibited widely, including having had three of his artworks displayed in the 2023 Adelaide Fringe Festival, Defending the Arts. His work has gained recognition for its authenticity and emotional depth.
Some works are commissioned by fellow sailors to commemorate ships they served on. His paintings serve as visual memoirs, preserving naval history and personal stories.
- About HMAS Supply (ll)
Commissioned on 10 April 2021, HMAS Supply (II) is the lead of two Supply class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ships built for the Royal Australian Navy by Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia.
HMAS Supply is the second Royal Australian Navy ship to bear the name after the Tide Class fleet tanker, HMAS Supply (I).
The AOR is a class of double-hulled ship. The Australian ships are based on the Spanish Navy’s Cantabria Class AORs. AORs carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support for deployed naval or combat forces operating far from port for longer periods.
In addition to replenishment, the vessels provide logistics support for the armed forces, combat against environmental pollution at sea, and support humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
More reading
- Additional resources for Geoff Anthony
- Additional resources for HMAS Supply (ll)
