Exclusive to the Bluebird Project
Never previously released canvasses by Keith Hick
You know how sometimes things just fall together…
Since 2001 when we lifted the boat until September 2006 when the decision was taken to commence the rebuild we have received literally hundreds of offers of help from more sources than you could imagine.
Many we struggle to think of a use for whilst others you just know are going to come good sooner or later.
Then once in a while things just slot nicely into place.
One offer we’d received was from a guy called Chris Jackson and his company, Metroimage in London.
If ever we needed any printing, pictures, display boards for the museum, that sort of thing… Very handy, we thought, but we’re still a way off needing such things so Chris and I bumped into each other from time to time and swapped the occasional e-mail but nothing came of his offer. That was until Keith Hick contacted us. The next part of the story is best told in Keith’s words. You see, Keith is an artist and a pretty, damn good one too.
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As a young child growing up in the early 1950’s, two heroic exploits made an impression on me in 1952. At the beginning of the year the front pages of our newspaper told of the dramatic efforts to tow the Flying Enterprise into Falmouth. With her cargo torn loose by an Atlantic storm the Flying Enterprise was abandoned by her crew, leaving her Captain, Kurt Carlsen, alone on the heavily listing and drifting Liberty ship.
Spectacular pictures brought the fight to save the ship by the ocean-going tug, Turmoil, to the nation’s breakfast tables and the thrilling ship-to-ship leap by her Mate, Kenneth Dancy, to join Carlsen. ‘Dancy’s leap’ became the stuff of legend. Although Carlsen was to lose his ship, he was saved along with Dancy and one day I hope to capture that brave leap on canvas.
Later that same year, John Cobb took his brand new jet boat, Crusader, up to Loch Ness and seemed within relatively easy reach of a new world water speed record, then held by the American, Stanley Sayres in Slo-Mo-Shun IV. I remember being utterly spellbound watching the television news film that evening in September, as Crusader hurtled across the Loch only to disappear in a welter of spray. John Cobb, holder of the land speed record in his Railton Special was no more and Donald Campbell was to assume the record-breaking mantle within three years.
Donald’s bravery in raising the world land and water speed records over the next decade continued to catch my eye as I finished school, went to college and began work. That fateful day on the 4th January 1967 left another indelible impression, one that must have burrowed deep into my subconscious, for a few years later I began my own ‘Bluebird Project’.
Having decided to capture Donald’s achievements in piloting K7 and the Proteous Bluebird to record speeds and secure both records for Great Britain, I began work on the first canvas. Researching the subject through books, publications, photographs and recollections pointed me to portray K7 at speed on Coniston Water. My dilemma was how to achieve the impression of speed on canvas. The ‘roostertail’ tail spray produced just the right effect and this was assisted by light catching ripples in the foreground. So, “Campbell across Coniston” was finished…
…and now for two more portrayals of K7, “Bluebird at speed” …
and “She’s tramping!”
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See what I mean? Keith painted these then tucked them away never to be seen. But there’s more.
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Two further canvases of the Proteous Bluebird car followed in rapid succession: “Ready to go”
and “403.9 mph”,
both set at Lake Eyre, Australia, in 1964. Once again, the importance to depict speed brought a solution to the second of these two works with a dust trail thrown up behind the car is just discernable as she hurtles towards the viewer.
The last canvas in the series was the most difficult to finish. Having portrayed Donald’s life in the first five works, the sixth painting, entitled, “A sunburst in the storm of death” was started, then laid aside for six months. I thought about over painting with a composition from within the cockpit as K7 sped down Coniston Water. Discarding the over painting idea, I took a deep breath and completed the canvas. Perhaps the next in the series may well be that exhilarating view from the cockpit which Donald saw countless times.
Because the paintings were such personal works of art and not completed as a commission they have remained in the family home, almost exclusively, for over thirty years. On one of their rare outings, my wife, Sandie and I visited the film set at Coniston of the TV film made in 1987 starring Anthony Hopkins as Donald and meeting the cast at the invitation of the film’s director.
The last time the complete set of six paintings was placed on limited display was a visit to the K7 Club meeting at Coniston in January 2001.
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Good, eh? That ‘Sunburst’ one is my personal favourite.
Keith called up to say that he’d be happy to let us use his paintings to further the project. How bloody marvellous is that? He came over to see us and what we’re doing and had a good look around the project workshop. A true gentleman.
Needless to say, Chris’ offer of help suddenly seemed the perfect next step so I gave him a call.
What happened was this – when Keith first got in touch and so kindly offered his work to help us out I thought, ‘hmmmm, I wonder if he’s any good,’ only to be completely blown away by the drama and technical excellence of his paintings. Then I thought, ‘hmmmm, wonder if Chris can make a proper job of reproducing them…’
I needn’t have worried.
In due course, and after much to-ing and fro-ing with negatives and such, the most beautiful set of prints turned up wrapped in tissue paper and delivered in a sturdy cardboard folder with Metroimage on the side. They really are stunning and guess what – Chris and Metroimage are also donating their work to help the project. Chris sent us a few words…
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I joined Metro Imaging in the early eighties when the company had three employees and went on to build one of the largest professional imaging companies in the UK.
I started out as a jobbing photographer and quickly realised I was more technical than creative so swapped sides of the camera.
Metro started life as a film lab, producing arty prints but we went headlong into digital fifteen years ago and added photo retouching, image asset management over the web and pre-press services. We also bought a lighting company and opened studios giving the business a long list of services.
These days with film in its swansong we are firmly in the digital arena but we still produce arty prints…but on a digital system not in a dish!
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Needless to say – you can now find Metroimage on our sponsors page and a limited edition run, only fifty of each print, available on the new page at the top of the main menu.
Keith will sign them and I’ve had a word with Gina and she’s happy to sign them too. I’ll even sign them if anyone is interested…
They are produced on top quality paper and honestly look like originals. They come in a tube so you can choose your own frame and each will be numbered so there’s no cheating!
The deal is this – both Keith and Chris have agreed that we can use fifty sets of these prints to help get our big blue boat back together (after which the paintings will likely retire to Keith’s attic for another thirty years) – a fantastic gesture from both gentlemen and I speak for the entire team when I say that we’re enormously grateful.
One other thing. As Chris has to fit the production around his other work and we have to pin down both Keith and Gina to ensure the proper signatures, etc, are in place, please be a little patient with us but you can be assured of an extremely high quality and exclusive item. The wait will be worth it – I promise.
If you require your prints for Christmas please order by 15th November to avoid disappointment.
We only hold a limited stock of these prints and orders will have to be printed and signed by Gina and Keith etc.
Postage and Packing (£8.00)
Please remember to add one postage and packing to your order This will cover all Post and packing for one to a complete set of prints |
403.9 Mph (£65) |
