Award winning aviation artist produces calendar to raise funds for Brathay
The highly respected, award winning aviation artist, Alex Hamilton, from Billericay in Essex, has produced a magnificent, limited edition, 2013 calendar in support of Brathay Trust. You can buy a copy simply by clicking here.
The calendar, which features 14 of his stunning photo realism paintings, has been produced to help boost the fundraising efforts of his wife, Heather McDonald Hamilton, who has recently been selected to run in our flagship fundraising event, the Brathay 10in10.
The event, which will begin on Friday 10th May 2013, will see Heather, together with 15 other fiercely determined runners, attempting to complete 10 marathons in 10 days around the Brathay Windermere Marathon course, the 2nd most popular marathon course in the UK.
And to help Heather reach her fundraising target, of £5,000, the calendar is now on sale through our website for just £5.00 (was £9.95) including P&P.
Alex is unusual in that, although a successful artist, he has no formal training in art. After leaving school he was lucky in securing a ‘junior’ position in a commercial illustration studio in London. This resulted in a successful career in illustration and he became a freelancer some 25 years ago. Along the way he has worked with clients such as Rolex, British Airways, Ford, Jaguar, Thomas Cooke and many more.
His love of aviation was evident as a child. His family home was close to the Biggin Hill air show and he would often try to draw the aircraft that he had seen. This passion for aviation stayed with him into adulthood and, through his career as an illustrator, he continued to draw and doodle, in his spare time, the usual suspects: Spitfires, Messerschmitts, Heinkels, Hurricanes and Lancasters.
Over the years many friends and acquaintances suggested that Alex should concentrate more on his interest in aviation art. Finally, in 2002, he made a decision that would change his life forever.
As Alex explained: “I decided to join the Guild of Aviation Artists. I had known of them for some time, and had been to view their exhibitions. In 2003 I entered four paintings in their Annual exhibition, and felt honoured and thrilled to have one of them, “Sunlit Silence” voted Aviation Painting of the Year. Moreover, I received another award, the Arthur Gibson Memorial Trophy for best first time exhibitor and I was absolutely thrilled when His Royal Highness Prince Andrew made the presentations at the opening ceremony.”
This prestigious award marked Alex’ arrival on both the national and international stage. He started to seek and accept commissions and publish limited edition prints. Today his paintings and prints are extremely sought after with collectors of his work spanning the world.
Alex gets a tremendous amount of satisfaction out of his work. Not only through the artistic and creative process but also through his ability to tell the story of our veteran pilots. “Having an association with our veterans is something I have wanted to do for some time, for two reasons. Firstly to show an appreciation to the men who flew and fought for what they thought was right, and secondly to try and help record their actions as accurately and attractively as I can, for others to maybe understand in time to come.”
The calendar has been produced just in time for Christmas and would make an ideal gift. So if you know someone who likes aviation art, or simply stunning pictures, why not order a copy of this beautiful product simply by clicking here.
To make a donation to Heather visit her Justgiving page.
