Michael Turner (illustrator)
Encyclopedia
Michael Turner is a British
illustrator
who specialises in motoring
and aviation
painting
s. He is regarded as one of the early examples of such type and is one of the most highly regarded of all. 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.
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. His first job after the national service was for a London advertising studios and turned freelance in 1957. 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.
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. 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
. 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.
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 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, 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.
aircraft in his spare time.
Michael and his son have held exhibition of their artworks at Halton House
in 2005 and 2006.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
who specialises in motoring
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
and aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s. He is regarded as one of the early examples of such type and is one of the most highly regarded of all. Turner counts racing drivers, teams, sponsors, pilots, motor and aircraft manufacturers, R.A.F. (Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
) and Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
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.
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. 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.After leaving school, Turner attended an art college, followed by his time at the national service
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
for two years. His first job after the national service was for a London advertising studios and turned freelance in 1957. 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.
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. He was commissioned by organisers to create official posters for notable motorsport events such as 24 hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, 12 hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
, a number of Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
races and many others that took place in notable circuits such as Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
. 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.
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
Denny Hulme
Denis Clive "Denny" Hulme, OBE was a New Zealand racing driver, the 1967 Formula One World Champion for the Brabham team....
and Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren
Bruce Leslie McLaren , born in Auckland, New Zealand, was a race-car designer, driver, engineer and inventor....
. He was responsible of the design of the bodywork of the race winning McLaren M1B and designed the team logo 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
1966 Monaco Grand Prix
The 1966 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit de Monaco on May 22, 1966. It was the opening round of the 1966 Formula One season, the first of a new era for Formula One, the 'return to power' as engine regulations were altered from 1.5 litres of maximum engine...
, 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
James Garner
James Garner is an American film and television actor, one of the first Hollywood actors to excel in both media. He has starred in several television series spanning a career of more than five decades...
), 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, and is also a Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Motoring Artists.
Turner has involvements with the Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
, 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
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
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 ChipmunkDe Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
aircraft in his spare time.
Michael and his son have held exhibition of their artworks at Halton House
Halton House
thumb|right|300px|Halton House, BuckinghamshireHalton House is a country house situated in the Chiltern Hills above the village of Halton in Buckinghamshire, England. It was built for Alfred de Rothschild between 1880 and 1883...
in 2005 and 2006.
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 RoebuckNigel RoebuckNigel Roebuck is an English journalist. Since 1971 he has reported on Formula One, and is considered one of the sport's most influential writers...
, 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)