Life at Bicester Heritage 'Whale Bones to Engines'
Above: Reportage Charcoal pastel painting :Fitting the Jaguar D-Type engine SOLD
Below: Looking up at the Blue Whale Skull 'Just how do I begin to sketch this?!'
I am a Reportage Artist with a particular interest in documenting people, working environments, history and heritage. I prefer to work directly from life capturing ‘behind the scenes’ stories through drawing and painting. The creative process of ‘visual story telling’ results in unique pieces of art that reflect the energy and atmosphere of an event, time and place.
My connection with Bicester Heritage started with a 25.2-metre-long Blue whale skeleton called ‘Hope’ which is now suspended from the ceiling in Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum London. This July marks the first anniversary since the installation.
What a lot of people don't know is that the Blue whale skeleton was fabricated at Bicester Heritage over a 5 month period in one of their historic hangars before it was transported to London.
I was commissioned by Research Casting International (RCI), Canada, to document and record the fabrication and installation process in one of the Hangars on site. Little did I know that it was also the beginning of a wonderful opportunity to sketch in the workshops on this beautiful heritage site. I enjoy working on location recording the surroundings as well as people working.
After a happy productive 5-month period as artist in residence with RCI, I was absolutely delighted to be invited to stay on and sketch.
I enjoy being in a busy workshop soaking up the atmosphere and sketching people as they work. I have spent a good deal of time in the workshop of Classic Performance Engineering. Make sure you visit Bicester Heritage for their next Sunday Scramble on the January 5th 2020.
Right: In the jaws of the Blue whale with the Skeleton Crew
I am particularly interested in recording the behind the scenes stories of what goes into the Restoration, preservation and maintenance of vintage and classic vehicles as well as daily life on site, especially as it has such an interesting and captivating history.
Charcoal painting created In the Engine room at Classic Performance Engineering SOLD
So far during my time here that as well as enjoying sketching whale bones I’ve discovered I love sketching engines! and I am captivated by the beautiful surroundings of this historic setting. I am always happy to work to commission and have been lucky enough to have received a diverse range of commissions since sketching on site.
SOLD Autumn Colours recorded on site at Bicester Heritage. Available as a limited edition print
2017 Sunday Scramble Displaying my paintings at Classic Performance Engineering
Above:SOLD Pastel painting created in the workshop of Classic Performance Engineering.
Available as a limited edition print
Above Workshop Overview Classic Performance Engineering (available to purchase)
To read about my encounters with the Blue whale skeleton please visit my blog ‘Hangar to Hintze Hall – a journey of Hope’. I created several reportage paintings in different media from Pastels, Conté, Charcoal to Watercolour all available as limited edition prints. The work now resides with Research Casting International Ltd Canada. To see more of my artwork visit my portfolio page and click on a gallery image you can also find my latest artwork here.
Above: Exhibition all set up at Research Casting International Ltd Canada Quinte West Open Doors.
All the originals are owned by RCI but I am excited to be able to offer limited edition prints of all my Blue whale reportage paintings and sketches