Ian Hansen puts the final touches to a HMAS LABUAN scene. Pic: ABPH Jon Gageler

Two marine artists, one a former RAN member, are hard at work painting the Royal Australian Navy in action in East Timor.

Former sailor Ian Hansen of Sydney's Hunters Hill and John Downton of Gerringong in NSW spent two weeks on the island capturing naval images in their sketch books.

Now they are transporting the sketches into coloured artworks.

"I have done five paintings, John about the same," Ian said.

"While away we visited LABUAN, NEWCASTLE, MELBOURNE and the New Zealand ship ENDEAVOUR.

"We also went ashore," he said.

The tour was at the invitation of the then senior RAN officer at INTERFET, CDRE Brian Robertson.

The RAAF flew the men from Darwin to Dili in one of its Hercules.

Ian said he hoped to have some of the works reproduced in a book depicting the way artists saw the action and scenes in east Timor.