Bentley Designers Auction Their Art For Charity

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Darren J. Day, In_spiration (no lot.#, this item was withdrawn from the auction):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

A Modern Greek Villa Fit For The Gods By KLab Architects

The Wide Open Villa by KLab Architects

A stunning single family home in the suburb of Ekali in Athens, Greece. Begun in 2006 and completed in 2009, the monolithic volume gives the home an impression of having two fronts; a curved one along the street and a planar one towards the back yard, pool and private garden. From the outside, the building has an austere, almost intimidating character. Inside, plan and section work together to create a fluid space that undermines the initial monumental impression by inviting extended exterior views to enter.

The Sake Bomb. A Modern Drinking Vessel Inspired By The Puffer Fish

What better eay to get bombed on sake than with the hand crafted ceramic microwaveable Sake Bomb, a modern sputnick looking vessel with four incoporated sake cups that can hold hot or cold sake.



The Sake Bomb is hand crafted in Los Angeles. It is available in a variety of vivid colors with a sealed matt ceramic finish. To ensure the complexity and geometric nature of the sake bomb remained true, the manufacturing process combines both high-tech modern technologies with traditional handcrafted techniques. The vessels were initially design in 3D CAD software and printed using a 3D FDM printer. From these objects plaster molds were taken and traditional slip-casting procedures are employed to create the ceramic versions for kiln firing.



This whimsical pouring vessel is a comical take on the western slang “Sake Bomb”. The inspiration is a juxtaposition of the Fugu Fish (Blowfish or Puffer Fish), the most opulent of sashimi cuts and a WW II sea mine. The small drinking cups perch neatly on the spines making it a compact entertaining tool.


above: the Fugu, also known as the Puffer Fish or Blowfish served as the design inspiration

The Sake Bomb was designed by Alexander Purcell founder of APRRO an interdisciplinary design studio based in Los Angeles.



Available in four colors:



Because the Sake Bomb is ceramic it keeps both your hot sake hot and your cold sake cold. To heat sake you may place Sake Bomb in microwave for a minute. Sake Bomb holds 8 FL OZ (235 ml)

$98.00 USD Buy it here.

$3.2 million iPhone 3GS Supreme. Officially The World's Most Expensive.

In the battle of the bling, Stuart Hughes presently holds the top honors with the introduction of his iPhone 3GS Supreme, officially the world's most expensive mobile phone at $3.2 million dollars ( or £1.92 million).




The ostentatious piece of technological hardware is encased in 271 grams of 22ct solid gold.




The front bezel houses 136 flawless diamonds of F color which total a massive 68 cts and the rear apple logo, set in solid gold has 53 flawless diamonds totaling 1 carat:


The major eye-popping feature is the front navigation button which is a single cut very rare diamond weighing a whopping 7.1 cts:


The chest which houses this unique handset is made from a single block of Kashmir Gold Granite, the inner lined with Nubuck top grain leather and which weighs is a massive 7kg.



Designed by Stuart Hughes of Liverpool, England, the phone was 10 months in the making and commissioned by an anonymous Australian businessman from the Gold mining industry.