- Michael Turner (illustrator)
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Michael Turner Born 1934
Harrow, Middlesex, London, U.K.Nationality British Field Painting Michael Turner (born 1934) is a British illustrator who specialises in motoring and aviation paintings. He is regarded as one of the early examples of such type and is one of the most highly regarded of all.[1][2] Turner counts racing drivers, teams, sponsors, pilots, motor and aircraft manufacturers, R.A.F. (Royal Air Force) and Army messes, museums and private collections as his client lists and has hosted a number of solo shows all over the world, plus other specialist shows.
Contents
Biography
Turner was born and raised within the suburbs of Harrow, Middlesex. During the Second World War, he became interested in aviation and those aeroplanes of the Royal Air Force and drew aircraft in his school exercise books which infuriated his teachers.[3] After the war, Turner developed an interest in motoring and motorsport when during his family holiday to the Isle of Man in 1947, they attended the British Empire Trophy Race.[3]
After leaving school, Turner attended an art college, followed by his time at the national service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for two years.[3] His first job after the national service was for a London advertising studios and turned freelance in 1957.[1] Turner’s artworks was shown regularly on the wall of the renowned Steering Wheel Club in London and many of these appeared on numerous magazine and book covers.[3]
In the 1960s, Turner started up his own company, 'Studio 88', to publish his aviation and motor racing prints, as well as his annual set of Christmas Cards that later became popular with enthusiasts.[1] He was commissioned by organisers to create official posters for notable motorsport events such as 24 hours of Le Mans, 12 hours of Sebring, a number of Formula One races and many others that took place in notable circuits such as Nürburgring.[1] He was notable in the United States for his poster works for races that took places in Watkins Glen between 1969 to 1980 and also created posters for its United States Grand Prix East races.[1]
With a need to capture the genuine nature of being in an event, Turner tends to travel to as many motorsport and aviation events as he could where he commonly sketches at events he attends for reference reasons.
Turner was also involved with the Can-Am series and had close ties with the McLaren team, which he became friends with its drivers, Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren. He was responsible of the design of the bodywork of the race winning McLaren M1B and designed the team logo[4] as well as designed the colour scheme for its first Formula One car of the 1966 season. That colour scheme was short lived as prior to the Monaco Grand Prix, the car’s colour scheme had to be changed when it was chosen by the producers of the film Grand Prix to the lead car of the 'Yamura' team, driven by its lead character, Pete Aron (played by James Garner), the colour scheme was changed to team’s white and blue, resembling that of Honda.
He is a founder member of The Guild of Aviation Artists, which he has been Chairman on two occasions and is currently President,[5] and is also a Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Motoring Artists.
Turner has involvements with the Red Arrows, which he has flown with them in the past. He counts racing drivers, teams, sponsors, pilots, motor and aircraft manufacturers, R.A.F. and Army messes, museums and private collections as his client lists and has hosted a number of solo shows all over the world, plus other specialist shows. His artwork has also graced the packaging of Airfix models. Turner have had to this date, six books of his works published.
Personal life
Turner has been married to his wife Helen since 1960. They have two daughters, Alison and Suzanne, his son, Graham is also an artist following the footstep of his father, they continues to visit several Grand Prix each year. Turner is licensed to fly an private aircraft, which he flies his privately owned Chipmunk aircraft in his spare time.
Michael and his son have held exhibition of their artworks at Halton House in 2005[1] and 2006.[6]
Published works
- La Vie D’un Mécanicien (illustrations, with Melville Wallace, 1979)
- Luftwaffe Aircraft (illustrations, with Francis Mason, 1981)
- La Vie Des Pilotes De Course de 1919 á 1939 (1983)
- Formula One: The Cars and the Drivers (with Nigel Roebuck, 1983)
- La Vie Des Pilotes De Courses (illustrations, with Pierre Dumont, 1983)
- Royal Air Force: The Aircraft in Service since 1918 (illustrations, 1986)
- The Aviation Art of Michael Turner (1994)
- Grand Prix De Monaco through the eyes of Michael Turner, (text by David Waldron, 1995)
- The Motorsport Art of Michael Turner (1996)
- Drawing and Painting Racing Cars (1999)
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Magnificent Moss in his flying machine". The Daily Telegraph. 22 April 2005. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/2734749/Magnificent-Moss-in-his-flying-machine.html. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ Tony (17 December 2007). "Turner - Michael" (pdf). motoringart.info. p. 1. http://www.motoringart.info/pdf/Turner%20-%20Michael.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ a b c d "Studio 88". Studio 88. 9 September 2008. http://www.studio88.co.uk/acatalog/Michael_Turner.html. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ Taylor, William (July 2001) The Mathews Collection: featuring McLaren, Ferrari, Corvette & other important marques London, England: Coterie Press p. 14 ISBN 1-902351-02-9
- ^ "History of the Guild of Aviation Artists". Guild of Aviation Artists. http://www.gava.org.uk/index.cfm?page=history. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ "RAF HALTON HOSTS ART EXHIBITION BY LOCAL PAINTER". Aylesbury, England: Bucks Herald. April 7, 2006. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-182242640.html. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
External links
Categories:- Formula One people
- English painters
- English illustrators
- 1934 births
- Living people
- People from Harrow, London
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