Faith

The Story Behind The Artwork

Faith is an artwork built around the language of the sea, the character of old maritime design and a simple message that has endured through generations of sailors — FEAR NAUGHT. At first glance, the piece has the appearance of an old nautical emblem or sign, with its bold decorative lettering, central lantern, ropework and carefully worked ornamental details. Look closer, however, and the individual elements begin to suggest something more meaningful. The lantern represents guidance and light in darkness, the rope evokes the working world of sailing ships, while the words themselves speak to the attitude required to undertake any difficult journey. Together they create an artwork that feels as though it could have been taken from the side of an old sailing vessel, a maritime tavern or the pages of a forgotten book of seafaring.

Mike Hicks has deliberately drawn on the visual language of historical maritime artwork to give Faith its character. The aged parchment tones, engraved appearance and ornate typography create the impression of something that has already lived a life before becoming an artwork. Rather than simply illustrating a ship or a particular historical event, the piece captures an idea that sits at the heart of almost every voyage — you cannot know exactly what conditions await you when you leave the shore. The sea can be calm, the wind can be favourable and the horizon can appear clear, but none of those things are guaranteed to remain that way. The courage required is not the absence of uncertainty, but the willingness to continue despite it.

The Meaning Behind The Title

The word Faith immediately brings to mind the conditions every sailor would hope to encounter — calm seas, favourable winds and a safe passage. But there is something deeper within the title. Fair weather has never been something that could simply be expected. Sailors throughout history have had to accept that the conditions around them could change, sometimes with very little warning. A promising voyage could become a battle against wind and waves, while a difficult beginning could eventually give way to calmer water and clearer skies. In that sense, Faith becomes a hopeful word rather than a promise. It represents the hope that the journey ahead will be kind, while acknowledging that the traveller must still be prepared for whatever comes.

That idea is reinforced by the words FEAR NAUGHT, which form such an important part of the artwork. The phrase carries an unmistakable sense of determination — do not fear what lies ahead. It does not suggest that there is nothing to fear, or that every journey will be easy. Instead, it speaks to the decision to carry on regardless. That is what gives the artwork its character. Faith is not simply about hoping for good conditions; it is about having the courage to set sail even when you cannot be certain what those conditions will eventually become.

The Lantern, The Sea And The Journey

The lantern at the centre of the artwork is particularly important to its visual character. Before modern navigation and communication systems, light was an essential part of life at sea. A lantern could provide practical illumination, mark a position or offer reassurance in darkness. Within Faith, it becomes something more symbolic — a small point of light surrounded by uncertainty. It represents direction, guidance and the idea that even when the destination is difficult to see, there can still be something ahead worth steering towards.

The surrounding ropework and nautical decoration strengthen that connection to the working world of the sea. These details are reminiscent of the equipment, language and visual traditions associated with sailing ships, where rope, canvas, timber, brass and lantern light were all part of everyday life. Mike's interpretation takes those familiar elements and brings them together into a single piece that feels deliberately weathered and historic. There is no attempt to make the artwork look modern or polished in a conventional sense. Instead, its character comes from the suggestion that it belongs to another time — a time when journeys were slower, horizons were more uncertain and the sea represented a genuinely formidable barrier between one world and another.

A Message For Any Journey

Although Faith draws heavily on maritime history, its message reaches far beyond the sea. Every person eventually finds themselves facing a journey where the destination is uncertain. Sometimes the route is clear but the conditions are not. Sometimes the destination itself is little more than an idea on the horizon. The artwork's combination of Fairweather and FEAR NAUGHT captures that tension perfectly — the hope for favourable conditions alongside the determination to continue when they are not.

That is what makes the piece more than simply a nautical artwork. It is a statement about resilience. The sea provides the visual language, but the message belongs to anyone who has ever had to leave something familiar behind, take a chance on what comes next or continue through difficult circumstances without knowing exactly where the journey will lead. In that respect, the old maritime phrase becomes surprisingly modern. We cannot control every wind that blows across our path, but we can decide whether we allow it to determine our course.

Fear Naught

At the heart of Faith is therefore a remarkably simple idea: keep going. The artwork does not promise that the sea will always be calm or that every journey will have a perfect ending. Instead, it celebrates the attitude of those who set their course and accept the uncertainty that comes with it. The words FEAR NAUGHT become almost a quiet instruction — acknowledge the dangers, respect the journey, but do not allow fear to stop you from taking the first step.

For Mike Hicks, that combination of historical imagery, maritime symbolism and a timeless message is what gives Faith its identity. It is an artwork about the sea, but also about something much more universal: courage in the face of uncertainty, hope for better conditions and the determination to keep moving towards the horizon. Like the sailors whose world inspired the imagery, we may not always know what awaits us beyond the next horizon. Sometimes, we simply have to set our course, trust the journey and fear naught.

Artwork Details

• Title: Faith
• Artist: Mike Hicks — Spike the Art
• Location: Plymouth, Devon, England
• Theme: Maritime History • Sailing • Courage • Navigation • The Sea • Exploration
• Edition: Unique one-off original artwork
• Copies: No other copies will exist
• Authentication: Individually registered and authenticated through WooSerialiZe