This year’s Royal Automobile Art of Motoring stepped up several gears this November with the move to the hugely prestigious Sotheby’s in London's New Bond Street.

This allowed curators Andrew Marriott and Rupert Whyte to expand the exhibition to embrace 26 artists headed by Britain’s two grandees - Michael Turner and Dexter Brown.

While Michael showed Formula 1 paintings mainly from the early 2000s , Dexter’s display was more eclectic. As well as three of his familiar abstracts, he also showed the only sculpture he has ever made, and a decorated clock and teapot.

Sending works from the USA was the Virginia-based Heidi Mraz with her eye-catching Petal to the Metal montages.

 

Also US-based these days is former Le Mans winner and Ferrari F1 driver Stefan Johansson. His Audi R8 painting caught many admiring glances.

Sculptor Jonny Ambrose provided the largest work - a six foot long skeletal Porsche 917 constructed from carbon fibre rods and 3D printed joints. 

 

Fellow sculptor Robin Bark was again one of the strongest sellers (see image below), although the Reverend Adam Gompertz sold all three of his works and water colourist Neil Collins also had a successful week as did the ever popular John Ketchell.

Top-selling artist Tim Layzell had a marvellous new Mille Miglia painting which was only just dry when it was hung.

The curators also showcased a number of artists participating at a major exhibition for the first time. They included the impressive works of Richard Neergaard, formed from laser-cut aluminium, the exquisitely fine brushwork of S. Smyth and the full-length driver profiles by Kevin McNicholas

 

The exhibition also featured a retrospective of the work of Barry Rowe, one of Britain’s finest motoring artists who died earlier this year. He was represented by his son at a very busy Private View.

The exhibition was beautifully lit by the Sotheby’s staff and provided an excellent opportunity for motoring art to be represented in the best possible surroundings.