On Tuesday, December 1st, Bentley Motors staged an exclusive art auction at Bonhams, London, to raise money for The Christie, a specialist cancer centre in Manchester, which treats 40,000 patients a year and is an international leader in cancer research.
Like all car designers, the Bentley designers began their training sketching and crafting models before actually designing a full fledged automobile. By drawing on their talents (pardon the pun), members of the styling and design team for Bentley Motors have created individual pieces for the auction in varied mediums including sculpture, acrylic paintings, digital art and photography.
The New York Times mistakenly reported that there were 22 items up for bid, but there were 40. I think they may have meant 22 designers.. but there are actually 25. I do not know the results of the auction or the bid prices, but here are ALL the items that were included.
Like all art, it's very subjective, but there are definitely some pieces that are far better executed than others in the auction. The sculptures, in particular, were very interesting. No doubt the result of years of clay car modeling.
clicking on the images below will enlarge them:
Dirk Van Braeckel, Bloodline of Bentley (Lot 18):
One-off framed digital print, 244 cm x 78 cm
Daniele Ceccomori, Timeless Mulsanne (Lot 3):
Laser cut Perspex and walnut veneered base, 65cm x 45 cm x 25 cm
Frederic Dams, Layered Portrayal (Lot 13):
Aluminium, leather, wood veneer, engine turned metal, automotive paint, lacquer, etched Perspex and acrylic paint, 87 cm x 60 cm. Etched glass kindly donated by Cutting Technologies Ltd and Engine turning donated by Frazero Ltd.
Frederic Dams, Mulsanne Cornering (Lot 34):
Acrylic on canvas, 170 cm x 80 cm
Frederic Dams, Dynamism of a Continental at Speed (Lot 43):
Sculpture machined from digital data, with vacuum formed acrylic, 70cm x 25cm x 17cm
Darren J. Day, In_spiration (no lot.#, this item was withdrawn from the auction):
Machined digital sculpture mounted on trimmed engine turned base with vertical mirror
34cm x 60cm x 30cm. Engine turning kindly donated by Frazero Ltd.
Simon Cooksey, Bentley 8 Litre (Lot 28):
Acrylic on canvas, 150 cm x 50 cm
Darren J. Day, Bentley R-Type Continental 1953 by H. J. Mulliner (Lot 32):
Framed photomontage, 153 cm x 104 cm
Darren J. Day, Bentley S2 Continental 1962 D.H.C. by Park Ward (Lot 33):
Framed photomontage, 153 cm x 104 cm
Vitalis Enns, Bentley Mulsanne Tape Drawing (Lot 8):
Black styling tape on Perspex, 220 cm x 70 cm
Vitalis Enns, Bentley at Le Mans (Lot 9):
Acrylic on canvas, 170 cm x 70 cm
Vitalis Enns, Bentley Speed 8 Tape Drawing (Lot 10):
Black styling tape on Perspex, 280 cm x 180 cm
Richard Gilmartin, The 6.5 Litre Blue Train car (Lot 11):
Acrylic on canvas, 180cm x 60cm
Richard Gilmartin, The Flowing 'B' (Lot 12):
This lot is made up of two pieces: 1. A mascot which can be fitted to a Mulsanne radiator shell.
Chrome and Perspex, 6cm x 7cm x 10cm
2. Sculpture: Machined Aluminium, Perspex and Piano Black, 15cm x 12cm x 10 cm
Manufacturing of the models kindly donated by Materialise.
John Paul Gregory, Le Mans One-Two (Lot 15):
Acrylic on canvas, 170 cm x 70 cm
Richard Killgren, Speed 6 (Lot 29):
Acrylics on canvas, 61 cm x 92 cm
Rajesh Kutty, Sculpture of Speed (Lot 19):
SLS protoype resin, coated with copper and chrome.
Model produced and kindly donated by Materialise.
Rajesh Kutty, Complementing Facets (Lot 37):
Acrylics on canvas, 183 cm x 60 cm
Rajesh Kutty, Bentley Imprinted (Lot 38):
Etching on anodised Aluminium with couloured grooves, 120cm x 50cm x 35cm
Etching kindly donated by Cutting technologies Ltd.
Crispin Marshfield, Art Deco Poster (Lot 25):
One-off framed digital print, 140 cm x 110 cm
Dominic Najafi, Meet The Family (Lot 24):
Acrylics on canvas, 200 cm x 70 cm
Dominic Najafi, Bentley S1 Continental Flying Spur_ A Timeless Design (Lot 42):
One-off framed digital painting, 100 cm x 40 cm
Robin Page, Bentley Mulsanne Sketch on Canvas (Lot 5):
Acrylics on canvas, 100 cm x 55 cm
Robin Page, Living the Dream (Lot 6):
Acrylics on canvas, 75 cm x 60 cm
Robin Page, Ambience (Lot 7):
Acrylic on canvas, 100 cm x 75 cm
Timothy Potts, Birkin 137 (Lot 2):
Life size bronze cast of Tim Birkin driving, Approx. 100 cm x 60 cm x 80 cm
Timothy Potts, Design Inspiration for Flying ‘B’ (Lot 39):
Bronze sculpture, 50cm x 25cm x 50cm
Jonathan Punter, Bentley Speed Form (Lot 4):
Straight grain walnut with a veneered face, 100cm x 50 x cm 15 cm
Jonathan Punter, Fast Lane (Lot 36):
Acrylics on canvas, 140 cm x 40 cm
Raul Pires, Automobile (Front) (Lot 21):
Acrylic & oil paint on printed canvas, 166 cm x 83 cm
Julien Plougastel, Bentley Embiricos Form (Lot 20):
Sculpture, machined from digital data, 120cm x 50cm x 35cm
Andrew Plumb, Mulliner Park Ward (Lot 23):
One-off framed digital print, 110 cm x 66 cm
Lisa Reeves, Bentley Interior (Lot 27):
Leather trimmed sculptural wall hanging, 90cm x 60cm
Gareth Thomas, Blower Bentley & Brollies (Lot 14):
Acrylics on canvas, 150 cm x 50 cm
Alex Watkin, Blue Train & Brooklands Ink Drawing (Lot 22):
Framed pen and ink drawing, 100 cm x 70 cm
Alex Watkin, 3 Litres & Speed 6 at Silverstone (Lot 40):
Acrylic on canvas, using pallet knife and brushes, 170 cm x 60 cm
Jakob Annermalm, Mother Gun Front (Lot 30):
One-off framed digital print, 123 cm x 70 cm
Jakob Annermalm, Mother Gun Rear (Lot 31):
One-off framed digital print, 123 cm x 70 cm
George Bowen, Brooklands Interior Painting (Lot 16):
Acrylics on canvas, 80 cm x 60 cm
Brett Boydell, The Flying 'B' (Lot 17):
Acrylics on canvas, 135 cm x 77 cm
Brett Boydell, The Flying Birkin (Lot 35):
Acrylics on canvas, 113 cm x 74 cm
Group Project, Pixelated Picture ( item not up for auction):
The idea behind this work of art was to create a piece everyone involved in the Art Project could contribute to. The use of a pixelated image allowed all the artists their own interpretation of the colours of the squares they were invited to paint. The image came to life slowly; gradually showing its beauty by drawing energy from the intriguing concept that the image only becomes truly clear from a distance. The exciting scene from a classic Le Mans race was used because of its atmospheric, contrast rich lighting quality. This piece was not included in the auction, but will remain at the Crewe factory as a reminder of the Bentley Styling & Design Art Project.
Bentley designer Richard Gilmartin (above) has been raising funds to support the charity since 2001 and is the inspiration behind the exceptional project. Working with his colleagues, Richard aims to surpass his previous fundraising achievements by auctioning this unique collection.
Bentley Motors