About Bill McGrath

Bill McGrath was born and educated along the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, OH, where his love of art and history began. He graduated from Kent State University with a Fine and Professional Arts degree and then joined the U.S. Coast Guard, graduating from Officers Training School in Yorktown, VA, in 1969.

After leaving the Coast Guard, McGrath spent the next seventeen years as a freelance commercial artist and illustrator.

Over 20 years ago, he began painting historical marine scenes from the Great Lakes area. This initial work brought him induction into the nationally known American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) as an artist member. For the last 15 years, he has concentrated his efforts on Civil War naval subjects. His work depicts cities, harbor scenes, battles, and ships as no other artist has.

McGrath explains, “Both the Union and the Confederate navies had a tremendous impact on strategy and outcome of land campaigns and engagements throughout the war. My paintings show historical scenes that had major influences on the Civil War.”

He spends many hours meticulously researching the details that go into his canvases, ensuring they are historically correct. Since all the ships and most of the harbor scenes from the Civil War period no longer exist, it takes months and even years of preparation before his subjects appear on canvas.

He consults with prominent authors and historians, visits nationally known museums and libraries, and gathers photographic and written reference material from a network of Civil War naval experts throughout the United States. A detail on a recent painting showcases how research can change a finished work. McGrath states,

“The reference photos I used showed a small building in the background. Due to the lack of detail, I made an educated guess that it was made of brick. Later, microfilm research in an old newspaper stated that the building was made of gray limestone. Although most people would never have noticed the painting
was incorrect, I did, so I changed it.”

It is this dedication to detail and accuracy that makes his paintings special. Because of his uncompromising authenticity and artistic skills, he was elected by its members to the prestigious Society of American Historical Artists (SAHA), an organization dedicated to presenting historical truth through art.

With so many respected Civil War naval authors, historians, institutions, and museums appreciating and collecting his work, it is certain that Bill McGrath will continue to portray our naval heritage with vivid color, unquestionable honesty, and historical accuracy.