Barry Mason (1947 - ) is one of the most accomplished marine artists working in Great Britain today.

Born at Seaton in Devon, he spent his formative years studying painting at the Exeter College of Art, before turning to professional maritime painting.

He has exhibited at the Royal Society of Marine Artists in London and has had sell-out solo exhibitions in both London and Stockholm.

His subjects include the mighty clipper ships of the 19th century racing on the high seas, naval battles, busy 19th century era scenes of the River Thames and schooners and fishing boats.

The clipper ship "Sweepstakes," built in the New York shipyard of Jacob A. Westervelt & Sons, launched in the summer of 1853. Admired for its sleek lines and speed, "Sweepstakes" was known for a record passage from New York To Bombay (74 days), and for a race around the Horn with three other clippers. She was built at the height of the American clipper ship boom resulting from a high demand of quick means of transportation to California during the Gold Rush. She made her final voyage in 1862 from Adelaide to Batavia, due to running aground a reef in the Sunda Strait.