Former Formula 1 star and Le Mans winner Stefan Johansson amongst exhibitors
The Royal Automobile Club’s annual Art of Motoring exhibition, Britain’s premier event featuring motoring and motor racing paintings and sculpture, is back for 2021. After last year’s virtual exhibition, the Club is delighted to be able to return to a physical show this year as part of London Motor Week. The exhibition will open to members and guests from Monday 1 November until Saturday 6 November.
The Show is returning in expanded form and the works of some 16 leading artists will be exhibited in several locations inside the iconic Pall Mall Clubhouse. But for the first time this year, all the works on display can be viewed and purchased via a dedicated website: www.theartofmotoring.co.uk
As ever, there are many different subjects, styles and choice of materials, including everything from traditional oil and watercolour paints to 3D printing. For the first time, QR codes will be displayed so viewers can easily download information about each artist and their works.
The artists exhibiting are some of the top names of the genre, including Tim Layzell, Barry Rowe, John Ketchell, Paul Dove and Roy Putt, plus sculptors Johnny Ambrose and Robin Bark. Other regulars include watercolourist Neil Collins, the ‘painting vicar’ Adam Gompertz, Martin Tomlinson, and Simon Britnell.
Heading the first-time exhibitors is former Le Mans winner and Grand Prix driver Stefan Johansson. The Swedish star, who raced in F1 for teams such as Ferrari and McLaren, took up painting after his friend Elio de Angelis was killed in a testing accident at Paul Ricard in 1986. Although he was based in Britain for many years, Johansson now paints in a Los Angeles studio. He produces a variety of works including some abstracts that evoke different corners at famous race tracks.
Another newcomer, and continuing the McLaren theme, is Paul Howse who, until recently, worked on the design team for McLaren’s road cars. Other newcomers to the exhibition are Ian Bilbey and Brian James, who bring two further outstanding and different styles to their palates.
The exhibition, which was first held in 2015, has been curated on behalf of the Club by Andrew Marriott of Pit Lane Productions and Rupert Whyte of Historic Car Art.
‘Britain has more professional motoring and motor-racing artists than any other nation,’ said Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, ‘and as collectors of motoring art for more than a century, the Club is delighted to showcase and help promote such prolific artists.’
About the Royal Automobile Club
The Royal Automobile Club was founded in 1897 and its distinguished history mirrors that of motoring itself. In 1907, the Club was awarded its Royal title by King Edward VII, sealing the Club’s status as Britain’s oldest and most influential motoring organisation.
The Club’s early years were focused on promoting the motor car and its place in society, which developed into motoring events such as the 1000 Mile Trial, first held in 1900. In 1905, the Club held the first Tourist Trophy, which remains the oldest continuously competed for motor sports event. The Club promoted the first pre-war and post-war Grands Prix at Brooklands in 1926 and Silverstone in 1948 respectively, whilst continuing to campaign for the rights of the motorist, including introducing the first driving licences.
Today, the Club continues to develop and support automobilism through representation on the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Motorsport UK and the RAC Foundation while promoting its own motoring events including London Motor Week, which features the free-to-attend Regent Street Motor Show and the RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
The Club also awards a series of internationally recognised trophies and medals celebrating motoring achievements. These include the Segrave Trophy, the Torrens Trophy, the Simms Medal, the Dewar Trophy and the oldest trophy in motorsport still being competed for today, the Tourist Trophy.