The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth currently has an exhibition on display by its first ever artist is residence, Rob Johnsey.

Skeleton: New Sculpture Inspired by Old Boats can be seen until April 30 and showcases pieces created by Rob, who is described as a man of many talents - Falmouth University fine art graduate, sailor, sculptor and boat builder.

Rob is not only the museum’s first artist in residence but is a long serving and dedicated member of the museum team, having volunteered for its Boat Collection team for over ten years. He is a keen sailor who once owned a traditional wooden boat. His museum voluntary work has included boat maintenance and restoration and, more recently, designing and carving the fabulous dragon figurehead for the museum's 2015-16 Viking exhibition. He holds a degree in civil engineering and as well as his degree from Falmouth University.

The exhibition is a solo show of new sculptural works inspired by historic boats and other forms in the museum’s collections. Rob works mostly in wood and has adopted a variety of styles for his pieces.

Some are inspired directly by museum exhibits such as the Coracles while other pieces draw on broad boat themes such as clinker construction or repeated patterns of boat ribs. Sometimes he has taken the reclaimed wood from an old boat and made it into something new. He likes to contrast synthetic or mechanical forms with those from the natural world.

The exhibition provides a "tactile and visually appealing experience," and a new way to engage with historic boats from Cornwall and around the world. It showcases Rob’s skill and artistic flair with wood and 3-D forms. It also takes a look at the process of making sculpture.