Tuesday, September 25, 2012

SKETCHBOOK SELECTIONS VOL2: AUTOMOBILES


The sketchbooks have been filling up at a fast rate this year, so I've now put together a 2nd volume featuring 24 different automobiles from bubble cars through to Bentleys. 
Limited to 100 signed and numbered issues. 
Click on the following link to buy your's:

Beaulieu International Autojumble 2012 report

I was invited to the Beaulieu International Autojumble by Vintage and Veteran to run a display and sketch on their stand for the weekend. This was my first time at Beaulieu and it's  true what they say about it, it is huge and people are selling everything imaginable, along side a huge auction by Bonhams on the Saturday and many other dealers displaying their vehicles. 
I spent most of the weekend on the Vintage and Veteran stand sketching the incredible array of bikes, with the occasional walk round the jumble resisting a purchase. Even though I had spent the previous Sunday with Vintage and Veteran (see previous report, Founders Day) the bikes on display were different showing what an extensive  and ever changing stock they have. Here are the sketches from the weekend along with some photos of my favourite vehicles from the weekend.

1903 Royal Enfield


(ink sketch)
I was very happy that Vintage and Veteran bought this bike along to Beaulieu, as I got to spend a fair amount of time with it over the weekend. I decided not to only sketch a full view but add some vignettes of the front brake, Brooks saddle, the engine and the Royal Enfield badge.

1917 Harley Davidson 1000cc V-Twin

 
(ink sketch)


1950 BSA Gold Star 500cc

(ink sketch)


1920 FN 4 Cylinder 

This was the star of the Vintage and Veteran stand over the weekend. A fantastic example of a FN 4 cylinder shaft driven machine, considering manufacturers were only just working out how to build motorcycles the amount of ingenuity in this machine is pretty mind blowing.
The 4 cylinder lump
 On the other side there are 4 priming cups which are used when starting up are the carburettor is lower than the pistons it needs a top up to get the fuel flowing.


1925 Henley 550cc (Blackburne engine)

A rare bike indeed these were only made for a short period and apparently are very nice bikes to ride.


1910 Douglas Model D

1936 Vellocette KSS




 Just a few of the grteat bike for sale on the Old Bicycle Company's stall

 1928 Sunbeam model 20.9 pickup
1919 - 20 L'Bleriot 500cc
This incredible Veteran French Bike was on the Yesterdays stand, unfortunately it was sold already. 

 Citroen DS Safari
(I will one day own one of these as a family car)

 Bedford Van
 Chevrolet




Monday, September 24, 2012

Founders Day 2012 report

I was invited by the ever supportive Vintage and veteran to run a display and sketch on their stand at Founders Day at Stanford Hall on the 2nd September. Founders day has a very extensive bike jumble and is well worth a visit. I had a great day sketching the ever changing roster of bikes Vintage and Veteran have, as well as chatting to people and drinking a lot of tea. Here are the from the day:

1913 Rover TT

(ink sketch)
These Rovers are few and far between these days and this is a fantastic example. I particularly liked the  way the oil pump is incorporated into the fuel tank.
 For more photos of this bike please go to the Vintage and Veteran website:

1912 FN Single

(ink sketch)

All original condition and in running and road legal condition. I fell in love with this bike and would have snapped it up if I had the cash, as it has so much history and character there is no need to touch it.
 For more photos of this bike please go to the Vintage and Veteran website:


Here are a couple more of the bikes that were on display:

 1927 Triumph Model N


1903 Royal Enfield

 Billed as the oldest running Royal Enfield this is certainly a sight to behold.

The following weekend Vintage and Veteran invited me to Beaulieu to do more of the same, report to follow.....

Monday, September 10, 2012

Tour De France Ink Sketch on Display at The Goodwood Revival

Tour de France

(Ink Sketch)
Hippolyte Aucouturier in 1905 (large character)
Stage 16 of the 1930 Tour de France (surrounding scene)

I was very kindly asked by Tim Gunn of the Old Bicycle Company to produce the above A2 ink sketch which will be on display in his shop at the Goodwood Revival this coming weekend. To find about more about the Old Bicycle Company and the Goodwood Revival please follow the links below:

Old Bicycle Company

Goodwood Revival

The original sketch is for sale (please contact me for sales mrtnsquires@googlemail.com).
A2 Prints are also available via my Big Cartel Shop





Monday, September 3, 2012

Watsonian Squire Centenary Celebration at Stoneleigh Park, 2012

On the weekend of 18-19th August I was invited along to the Watsonian Squire Centenary celebrations at Stoneleigh Park.  A great range of sidecar outfits turned up over the weekend coming from not only the UK and Europe but Japan too. Couple that with a great display of historic sidecars, free test rides on Royal Enfields, guest speakers including 16-times Isle of Man TT champion Dave Molyneux, 9-times winner Mick Boddice and 1960′s TT veteran Norman Hanks and Stan Dibben and don't forget the specially brewed bitter Mr Watson’s Bit on the Side a fantastic weekend was had by all., Watsonian Squire patented the first foldable sidecar in 1912 which allowed residents of terraced housing to fit their sidecar outfit down the side passage. Ever since Watsonian have been and still are producing sidecars for a variety of different uses, including ambulances, trials and racing outfits amongst many others. For more information on Watsonian Sidecars please visit their website:

watsonian-squire.com


Until now I haven't sketched a sidecar outfit so this weekend was a great opportunity to get to grips with the complexity of not only a sidecar but the accompanying motorcycle too, here are the results from the weekend.

1933 1150cc Brough Cruiser Sidecar

(ink sketch)

This sidecar outfit has been featured in both George & Mildred and Dad's Army. The bulbous shape of the sidecar was what originally attracted me to sketch this. It definitely made a good warm up for the weekend ahead.


2001 Heritage Soft Tail with V-Triebwerk Sidecar

(digitally painted ink sketch)

 This certainly was a great machine to sketch as it had all the classic Harley looks coupled with a Watsonian style sidecar. 
The sidecar was built by a German sidecar maker V-Triebwerk, who incorporated the softail suspension which can be seen below.


Lambretta L1150 series 2 with Watsonian Bambini Mk. 1 and PAV Tralier


(digitally painted ink sketch)

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to sketch this quirky outfit. The Bambini sidecar was especially resurrected from the shed for the centenary. Topping the outfit off with the PAV trailer made it quite a sight to behold. The owner told me that the scooter had been in the shed for 27 years and had previously been used to travel around Spain for six months.



Triumph 140e with Charwood Meteor Sidecar


(digitally painted ink sketch)

 The sidecar shape evolved from casts taken from Mustang belly tanks giving them an aesthetic connection with the belly tank racers developed by Bill Burke (as featured in a previous post).


A restoration project for sale possibly Watsonian?

(ink sketch)

Royal Enfield Bobber

(digitally painted ink sketch)

Even though this was not a sidecar outfit I had to take the opportunity to sketch it as the stance and lines were great on this custom Royal Enfield, especially the extra wide handle bars.
 The build was done by Bruce Maconoche Classic Custom at Oxfordshire Royal Enfield.
 

Here are some more highlights of the show:


 Soviet Outfit
(a work in progress according to the owner)

 This outfit traveled all the way from Japan, and not by container. It was ridden all the way!

 This Triumph Rocket outfit was incredible, the sidecar was custom built to enable the riders son to access it in his wheelchair. The sidecar even had its own handlebars with working instruments.

Royal Enfield 350/Watsonian ISDT winning outfit from 1953.

This immaculate restoration is a real labour of love with all the fine details attended to. I especially liked the stone catchers on the wheels,  such a simple design which pulls out stones in order to avoid punctures.


 BSA Motorcycle Spares outfit.
 For the die hard sidecar enthusiast.

 A fantastic child's sidecar for a pedal bike.