This oil painting caught my eye at an auction yesterday, it was one of a group of four, two of which are by the same artist, Arthur Whitlock, author of the much quoted book “Behind The Cockpit Door” .
Although he was a member of GaVA and often refered to as an author, artist, cartoonist and airline captain, following much web searching I can find no records of his artwork ?
This one is called “The Interloper” Vickers Viking En Route East Africa ??
The BKS website mentions a Viking charter during 1955 for Marconi carrying radio equipment to Nigera ! could that have been the inspiration for this painting ? was Arthur the pilot ?? Would any of you knowledgeable people have any ideas ??????
Keith.
By: Lindy's Lad - 31st March 2025 at 13:24
Try getting in touch with the guild – they should be able to shed some light on when and if he was a member…
By: Newforest - 31st March 2025 at 13:24
Look at that, a window for each passenger! Nice painting, in your collection yet?:)
By: Denis - 31st March 2025 at 13:23
If anyone has a decent image of the Vikings instrument panel please please post it!
OK thread hijack over:)…and sorry!
By: Old Git - 31st March 2025 at 13:22
The BKS charter to Kano in Northern Nigeria actually happened. The person who runs the site sent me a copy of a letter concerning the charter on BKS headed paper. I was interested as my father was in charge of communications at Kano Airport at the time and I was also there but too young to appreciate a BKS Viking coming in 😀
What I would say about the painting is that there are no Giraffes in Northern Nigeria. Packs of Wild Dogs would be nearer the mark.
Regards
Keith
(OG)
By: T-21 - 31st March 2025 at 13:21
Worth a look http://website.lineone.net/~biggles200/
By: T-21 - 31st March 2025 at 13:21
G-AJJN c/n 289 on charge with BKS 17.12.54 named “Jim Mollison”.On 19.12.57 it went to Continental Air Services then Channel Airways. It was broken up at Southend circa June 1963.
By: Moggy C - 31st March 2025 at 13:21
I must confess it is not something that would ever adorn my walls.
Interesting history though.
Moggy
By: Propstrike - 31st March 2025 at 13:21
It was a strange light that day, which projected the shadows of the giraffes from directly above, and yet the aeroplane’s shadow is oblique ;).
It is a tricky business, to ‘create’ a scene, and reconcile the perspective and the light ( both quality and direction) . Much more straightforward to simply work from a photograph, but that feels like slavishly copying, and for the painter, this is not altogether satisfying.
By: keithnewsome - 31st March 2025 at 13:16
Thank you all for your input here, yes I did buy it for very few £££s, I agree the shadows are misleading ! is that artistic licence ??
I have seen the BKS website, it is so nice to see all that enthusiasm still there after all these years.
Old Git, Nice little personal input there, thank you.
There is a label stuck to the back of the picture which has details of it’s entry into a GaVA exhibition during 1998 ! and a valuation / price ?????
Thank you. Keith.
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January 26, 2010 at 7:55 pm