Many attendees at Farnborough think an aircraft is a thing of beauty, but artist David Bent takes it one step further by actually incorporating plane images into his art. The Art of Flight is his acclaimed collection of modern aviation art. The Art of Flight Collection features design elements inspired by a variety of aircraft, from historical types including Spitfires and cold war Vulcans, to the latest stealth aircraft and UAVs.
The collection was recently shown at the Dubai Airshow, and the time Bent spent in the Middle East influenced his newest series of paintings, called ‘Plane Tessellations’, a fusion of aircraft shapes and Islamic geometry.
Bent’s association with aviation also includes serving as artist-in-residence for the world famous Royal Air Force aerobatic team, The Red Arrows.
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To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the RAF, Bent created a special piece called ‘Option 7’. The painting features a pilot in a modern aircraft leading a formation of various planes that have served with distinction throughout the RAF’s illustrious history. Pictured aircraft include the Lancaster, the Spitfire, and the Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a from WW1. Bent presented a one-off special print of Option 7 to the RAF’s chief of air staff as part of the anniversary celebrations.
Original paintings from the Art of Flight Collection, including the Plane Tessellations and Red Arrows series, as well as Option 7, can be viewed at the Art of Flight stand and in the hallway outside the booth in Hall 4. Pieces from the collections are also available for purchase as original paintings and high quality limited edition prints.
Source: Flight International
