The Brief: To commemorate the bicentenary of Admiral Lord Nelson's death and celebrate Lloydís maritime leadership and heritage, Lloyd's worked with Artwise to commission a contemporary work reflecting a tradition of innovation and risk-taking.

The Artwise Solution: Artwise commissioned filmmaker Peter Greenaway, composer David Lang and the London Sinfonietta orchestra to collaborate on a highly ambitious, multidisciplinary event inspired by the maritime theme. Greenaway arranged a libretto based on Moby Dick, The Tempest and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which was then orchestrated by Lang and performed by the world-class London Sinfonietta. Writing on Water also included live calligraphy by Brody Neuenschwander, who worked on Greenaway's The Pillow Book, and live VJ'ing of some 400 film images by the director himself. Writing on Water was first performed in Richard Roger's spectacular Lloyd's building, where the vast screens were suspended directly over the markets, and to great acclaim as a public event at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's South Bank (2005). Artwise project-managed over 100 collaborators for this commission.

A DVD of Writing on Water has since been released, and the piece has become part of the London Sinfonietta repertoire. Artwise and Lloyd's secured an Arts & Business New Partners award (2005) to extend the work, as well as being short-listed for a Hollis Sponsorship Award (2006).