The hidden gem you are looking for is "The Cree Journals". Hundreds of watercolours of life in the RN 1837-1856 illustrating first opium war, pirate hunting,Crimean war..
It might seem a bit early for you, period wise, and there are limits to the detail as you would expect from the medium used, but it's a great source never the less. If you can't get hold of a copy, contact me and i`'ll lend you mine.