Land Speed Record Art

From August 5th to September 15th, the Royal Automobile Club in London is hosting a show of art featuring British wheel-driven Land Speed Record holders.

Rupert Whyte, owner of the Historic Car Art Gallery, has curated the exhibition.

I was lucky to be one of the 11 artists chosen to submit art to the show, and the only North American artist invited.


Donald Campbell's Bluebird-Proteus CN7 on it's way to a world-record speed of 403.10 mph (648.73 km/h) on Lake Eyre, Australia on July 17, 1964.
Acrylic, pen&ink and colour pencils on 24"x 10.5" (60.9cm x 25.4cm) watercolour paper
© Paul Chenard 2015

In the art that I submitted, I wanted to show how once the driver committed to their record run, they were completely alone with themselves, their car, and their God.


1000 HP Sunbeam - Henry Segrave - Land Speed Record - 203.79 mph -
Daytona Beach, Florida - March 29th, 1927
Pen & ink and markers on 16"x 8" red archival paper © Paul Chenard 2017


Irving Napier Golden Arrow - Henry Segrave - Land Speed Record - 231.45 mph - Daytona Beach, Florida, USA - March 11th, 1929
Pen & ink and markers on 16"x 8" yellow archival paper © Paul Chenard 2017


Campbell-Railton Blue Bird - Sir Malcolm Campbell - Land Speed Record -
301.33 mph - Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA - September 3rd, 1935
Pen & ink and markers on 16"x 8" blue archival paper © Paul Chenard 2017


MG EX 135 - A. T. Goldie Gardner - 1,500 Class Record - 204.3 mph -
Dessau, Germany - June 2nd, 1939
Pen & ink and markers on 16"x 8" green archival paper © Paul Chenard 2017

It’s a huge honour for me to be part of something so special.