Collectors & Aficionados
Michael Turner
The article is about the renowned artist Michael Turner, his passion for cars and planes, and his unique style of creating paintings. The writer takes us on a journey to visit Turner's studio located in a wooden pavilion in his garden.
Getting to know an artist can help you to understand their work. When you arrive at the cottage, 30 miles or so from London, where Michael Turner lives and works, you find yourself really entering his world, albeit not immediately, it has to be said. In fact, first of all, he and his wife give you a warm welcome in their elegant living room whose windows overlook a large garden in full bloom.
The style of Michael Turner is quite unmistakable in this illustration of the 1955 Monaco GP. The picture shows the Mercedes W196 driven by Stirling Moss ahead of Eugenio Castellotti’s Lancia D50, which came second. And just look where the photographers could stand back in those days!
Everything about it is perfect and quintessentially English, but as yet there is certainly no hint of this being an artistic setting. After a fine tea, we are told it is time to visit the studio. Should we take the car? No, all we need to do is go out through the back door and make our way over to a wooden pavilion, also very British-looking, situated beyond a white wooden fence. The style of the garden remains the same on the other side of the little gate that Turner opens with the ease of habit.
