180. Picture This: David Constant

The RNLI’s Artwork Manager reveals the painstaking work that goes into colourising the charity’s archive photos, and reveals the stories behind three of them

Extraordinary stories from ordinary people deserve to be remembered. And 200 Voices is one way in which the RNLI is ensuring that these stories are not forgotten. But it’s not the only way. David Constant leads the RNLI's Artwork team - who usually lay out the charity's communications and campaigns and prepare them for print. But with a big anniversary on the horizon, he faced a new kind of task.

Over 2 centuries, the RNLI has amassed quite a photographic collection. In this episode, David shares the stories behind some of these archive images and explains the careful process that goes into colourising them as part of the charity’s bicentenary activity.

View the lovingly restored images discussed in this episode at RNLI.org/BirthdayPhotos

A photographic exhibition celebrating the vital role that women have played in saving lives at sea runs 2 March–1 December 2024 at the National Maritime Museum, London. Women of the RNLI showcases images captured using Victorian glass-plate technology, and is the work of Jack Lowe. 

To listen to Jack Lowe's 200 Voices interview, search episode 192: Talking Pictures

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI   

Interview by the RNLI's Eleanor Driscoll

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls   

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200