Undead Helmsman (Character Design)

A work in progress illustration entitled 'Undead Helmsman' for an upcoming secret exhibition in London.

For anyone else working on this exhibition, this work is copyrighted (sorry, have to say that).

Before I work this up, I would like all your feedback / suggestions on how to improve it - in particular the beard. I quite like the style I am doing it in the moment, it's got detail and is supposed to be a bit slimy and dead looking, less hair like than if he were alive, however my friend isn't sure about it. What do you think?