
Edney McLean
Wreck of the Ten Sails, 2004
Oil on masonite
Cayman Islands National Museum Collection
Edney McLean, a self-taught artist, has long been a champion of East End’s cultural heritage. A community leader, educator, and organiser of local traditions such as Heritage Day and Christmas Eve bonfires, McLean is committed to preserving the district’s identity. His dream of founding a memorial museum reflects the same ethos that guides his art: “I want to leave my district better than I found it.”
McLean’s evocative seascape captures the most legendary shipwreck in Cayman’s history—The Wreck of the Ten Sail. The painting portrays the dramatic events of 8 February 1794, when ten ships—including the British frigate HMS Convert—were wrecked on the reef off East End.
The Convert, a ship that had been captured from the French, had been tasked with escorting a convoy of 58 merchant vessels through the Caribbean during the French (and Haitian) Revolutionary War. During the night, several ships sailed ahead against orders and struck the reef. Convert, in its effort to respond and warn the others, was also wrecked. Caymanian men rushed to the scene, risking their lives to assist and rescue those aboard. Their bravery is central to the enduring legacy of the event.
McLean brings this moment of maritime tragedy and heroism to life with a deep personal connection to place. The painting is not only a visual retelling of a pivotal moment in Cayman’s past, but a tribute to the community that responded with courage and compassion.