John Mecray

John Mecray grew up one block from the Atlantic Ocean in historic Cape May, New Jersey, where his family has deep roots. He attended the prestigious Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts) where he majored in illustration and painting. After graduating, John was asked to return to his alma mater to teach a drawing class, which he did while developing a successful advertising career, illustrating for books and magazines. In 1972 an invitation to crew on a forty foot sailboat bound for St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands was irresistible - and opened the door to a whole new career. By his second trip he was painting marine scenes with a growing passion. In 1976, after a third passage to the Virgin Islands, he gave up his successful Philadelphia based illustration career and moved his family to Newport, Rhode Island to devote himself full-time to marine painting. By chance, their June 25th arrival in Newport coincided with the arrival of the Tall Ships '76 participants - an auspicious beginning.

By 1979 John's keen interest in yachts and yachting history led him to co-found The Museum of Yachting - and their annual Classic Yacht Regatta. When the museum was offered the J-Class sloop, Shamrock V. John encouraged the hesitant board of directors to accept the offer. The America's Cup challenger became an awesome fixture on Narragansett Bay. In 1993 he helped found the International Yacht Restoration School, where he was a trustee. The success of IYRS enabled the school to acquire Shamrock from the museum in 1995. In 1998 it was sold to provide seed money for a project John had been aiming for since 1981 — the restoration of the 1885, 135 ft. schooner Coronet - America's most historic yacht.

John was a member of Mystic Seaport Museum's Yachting Committee, the New York Yacht Club, The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Herreshoff Marine Museum, among others. For over 25 years John donated one of his limited edition prints to each of 45 Leukemia Cup Regattas held throughout the country. Nine offshore yacht deliveries between New England, Bermuda, the Caribbean and countless yacht races gave the artist a personal knowledge of the effects of wind, sea and light on a variety of sailing vessels. Those experiences imbue his paintings with a sense of reality appreciated by sailors and non sailors alike. John Mecray's authoritative images evoke an era that produced sailing vessels which are almost beyond comprehension today. His work has helped engender a greater appreciation for the magnificent racing yachts that are his trademark.