SUBJECT MATTER ~ This is a difficult area to offer advice on. Artistic style also falls into this category. 'Good art’ is a very subjective matter anyway – beauty is in the eye of the beholder and with subject matter so is technical expertise – if it looks right, it normally is right! Copies of famous photographs or infringements of contemporary Formula 1 trade marks and copyrights (usually allowed if disclaimed by ‘reproduced with kind permission of…’) should be totally avoided. Better to go for original ideas that capture a moment or an era and unusual views or artistic interpretations of famous events. Non racing scenes obviously have a much wider scope. Technical historical and factual accuracy is vitally important especially if a particular model type or race is depicted. Failure to appreciate this will have a dramatic effect on collectable works. Private commissions offer real scope for both amateur and professional motoring artists - it’s like being asked to photograph someone’s child. They can cover cars that the customer has owned, owns or would like to own. Personal customisation may also be requested. This sort of work is usually of much higher value to the customer than anyone else, due the personal nature of the commission – unless of course they are a very famous customer! The real value is between the artist and the satisfaction the art gives to the customer.

FINALLY ~ Buying, commissioning or collecting motoring art should be fun and rewarding. It’s also very personal - if you like the picture, it brings lasting pleasure, and you treasure it, great. It’s well worth what you paid for it!

One final caveat. Framing and presentation are important and should be considered in relation to the selling price. A poorly framed good painting can often be transformed by imaginative framing but a good frame can’t turn an old banger of a painting into a Ferrari

Copyright of The Guild of Motoring Artist’s – may only be used in whole or part by their expressed permission 2002