PHIL COLLINS RACING ART
DVDs BOOKS
|
 ARTIST PHILPHIL Collins was always great to watch, one of the most spectacular riders of the late-70s and early-80s and a big loss to British speedway when he retired from the BL in 1986 and moved to the USA. But now the former Ellesmere Port and Cradley Heath star is set to make his mark in the sport again - as a budding artist. Collins - the subject of an in-depth interview in issue 27 of Backtrack - works full-time for a manufacturing company called Aqua Systems Inc. in California but in his spare time he is applying his talent for art to a new hobby that he hopes will develop into a very useful sideline business. He has set up Phil Collins Racing Art and plans to paint pictures of former riders he rode with and against during a successful 11-year career that brought him the Overseas title, two senior league championship winners' medals with the Heathens, a host of England caps and a World Final appearance at Norden in 1983. Phil, 49, explains: "I've always been interested in art since I was at school, where I attended extra lessons to learn to paint at the age of 13-14. I've only doodled over the years, so I don't have much of a personal collection of art. But it's an interest that¹s been re-awakened, so I decided to pick up my paint brushes again!" His first piece of art is a painting of himself (see illustration below) racing at the old Ascot Park track in Southern California, where Phil set a record by winning six consecutive main event races in 1990. He says: "This painting is originally based on a black and white photograph of me racing at Ascot Park in the 1987 season. I found another colour picture, showing the different colours on my leathers, to help me confirm the most minute details. "I paint in acrylic and when that stage is complete, the image is scanned onto museum quality canvass. I then apply what is called the Giclée technique by adding paint to a reproduction copy to enhance it, make it more vibrant and so that you can actually feel the texture. And because I'll be adding more paint to each one, every finished art print will have a unique look and feel to it. "I'll be selling my paintings as limited edition reproductions - one hundred in this case - and as well as personally signing each one, they will all be individually numbered and come with a letter of authenticity. I know I'm not the first person to ever paint a speedway scene but it's rare for one of the actual competitors of any sport to produce the original art work himself, so I hope that will be my edge." The painting we've reproduced below - titled 'California Style' - is the first to emerge from Phil's easel but he has a number of other subjects in mind, including a painting of his former Cradley team-mates Bruce Penhall, Erik Gundersen and Jan O. Pedersen racing alongside each other at the now sadly defunct Dudley Wood Stadium. "I might paint one of those three all racing together side-by-side, in different Cradley body colours to reflect the periods in which they each rode for the club. Perhaps I should put Wiggy (Simon Wigg) in there too, to make it four ex-Cradley stars who went on to become world champions in speedway or long-track or both in Erik¹s case," says Phil. "I'll be specialising in riders from the past. One painting featuring the Collins brothers is an obvious choice for me. Paintings of famous speedway stadiums, such as the old Hyde Road (Belle Vue), are something I also have in mind. But I welcome suggestions and commissions from individuals or groups within the speedway fraternity. "I'm hoping my paintings will appeal to supporters of the riders and teams featured in my paintings, but also general collectors of speedway memorabilia. They¹re not cheap but, because of what I do using the Giclée technique, I guarantee that each one will be a unique piece of art." One of the most popular and charismatic riders of his era, Phil intends to donate a percentage of his profits from his paintings to the Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund. He says: "Because I¹m still working full-time during the day and not yet in a position to set up my own website or respond very quickly to enquiries, especially from over here in the States, I'm delighted that Retro Speedway have agreed to handle orders on my behalf. They can take orders via their telephone, by post and also via their website, and will act as my UK distributor." If you would like to personally commission a painting from Phil, write giving full details to: Retro Speedway, 103 Douglas Road, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 1AW. Alternatively, you can email us at: editorial@retro-speedway.com PHIL COLLINS RACING ART Your chance to own this unique first limited edition painting produced in America by the former Cradley Heath & England star.  ‘CALIFORNIA STYLE' Art print measures 14 inches x 11 inches - produced on museum quality canvas. Ideal for framing. £180 + £20 Post & Packing How to order: By phone: Call the Retro Speedway Credit/Debit Card Hotline on 01708 734 502. By Post: From Retro Speedway (Art), 103 Douglas Road, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 1AW, England. Make cheque payable to Retro Speedway. By Internet: Simply click below to order via PayPal. Order online here  (Allow 28 days for delivery) |
