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Ian Guy, the Motoring Artist "I started drawing cars as a child, and never stopped," Having been established for over 25 years Ian Guy is among the foremost automotive artists in the UK, his art being appreciated by numerous national and international collectors. As a professional artist, Ian specialises in cars, and more recently bikes, of every imaginable type. He paints from a depth of knowledge and passion, and each work is inspired and informed by countless hours of personal observation and research. Ian has become widely known for his technical accuracy, intricate detail, dramatic lighting, and the little “extras” found in most of his compositions.  For many years Ian had his own public Gallery in Saint Ives in Cornwall, a town known the world over for its Artist Colony.  Now from his studio, in rural Monmouthshire, Ian does most of his business by mail order and on line, using his web-site to reach out to car lovers across the UK and overseas.    Through the Summer months he, and his partner Mandy (they were at school together) can be found, with their mobile gallery of  Ian's original oil paintings and prints, at many shows around the country, all with an automotive nature, including Americana at Newark, the Spring, Summer and Late Summer Nationals at Billing Aquadrome, the NSRA's Billing Fun Run and Hot Rod Supernationals at Old Warden, Biggleswade, the NASC's Street Rod Nationals at Ipswich and Neil's Spring Nationals at Drayton Manor to name just a few . So should you have the inclination, you can meet Ian and Mandy in person.  They are an easily approachable couple both with warm and welcoming personalities. And you might even get the chance to watch him work on his latest painting.   Most commissions are motoring based and will recall a favourite car or bike, or favourite motoring adventure or fantasy.  He often works from customers’ photographs, but is equally happy to source material of his own. As well as producing one-off paintings for individual customers, he will take on corporate commissions.       He is happy to paint any subject based on customer's requirements, in fact he often receives commissions for animal portraits, single & family portraits, and favourite personal landscapes & seascapes ( see Other Work ). Though there's no denying his particular reputation for affordable paintings of British & American classics, as well as hot rods, custom cars, kit cars, chopper bikes & trikes, and racing & competition cars & bikes. For anyone wanting to capture a cherished possession, an Ian Guy original can be bought for less than £100, while prints start at around £20. So if you drive it, or ride it, Ian will paint it! Want to see how he does it? Click the image to look over his shoulder... “Painting, for me, has never been a hobby, it’s not a relaxing experience - I feel compelled, even driven to paint. Since I was a child I have always painted, it is a passion, a real labour of love." “I start with small compositional sketches in pencil, I might do one, two or several  until I feel the composition is right. I try not to use front light, ie. the sun behind the observer, I prefer back light or side light giving long shadows, or diffused light as in a cloudy, or dusty day. I love dust and mist, it helps portray the distance between objects , and sets a mood, giving atmosphere to the whole composition. When painting at shows you might see me using a small hand-held mirror, and when working in my studio I have a large mirror behind me.  A mirror allows me to view the painting in reverse, if something in the painting does not feel right to me, it becomes obvious in the reflection, and I can then easily correct it” Any Questions? Check out my F.A.Q.s page, or just contact me... Contact Me Back to Home Page