Free Time

The Art of War

Words: Dawn Birch-James, MA Arts Market Appraisal

When I opened Art in the Heart, I soon realised that I could tap into quite obsessive passions. When the brilliant James Green brought in paintings of trains, I was unjustifiably dubious, but the crowds of men dribbling over these timeless machines soon put me in my place. They love the fact that this is art, capturing the essence of their passion. When Paul Bell arrived with his skilful representations of spitfires, hurricanes etc. in action, I had learned my lesson and knew the public deserved them. So ask me any questions about trains and planes!

The Art of War: Paul Bell
Paul Bell, once photographer and now digital artist, has an inimitable style. Ostensibly no frills and to the point, he has in fact a profound sensitivity and inner passion borne out of previous experience and occupation. There is nothing particularly extraordinary about a little boy’s fascination with Air-Fix kits except that this love of aircraft has remained with him and now expresses itself in the most wonderful digital works of art.

Paul started off his more artistic career as a photographer. ‘Photography is just something I drifted into. It was easy money, particularly when I got involved in glamour photography and airbrushing. I worked with a lot of celebrities and leading newspapers and work just kept on coming in, but with time it started to leave a bad taste in my mouth knowing that young girls were aspiring to something that was completely false and in some instances causing grave health issues. I knew I’d always come back to art after I studied A Level at school and disenchantment with my occupation at the time spurred me on.’

Paul’s art work is not static. It exudes action and excitement and draws the viewer into the adventure. ‘My pictures recreate actual events in history which could not have been photographed. I want to piece the past back together and give a vision of what could not possibly be imagined. I love researching with the actual pilots if they are still living. Some people think that these events are fictional but they all really happened. My picture Piece of Cake shows Squadron Leader Raynham George AFC flying his own Spitfire MH434 under the bridge at Winston and Q for Queenie shows Peter Isaacson flying a Lancaster Bomber under Sydney Harbour Bridge.

‘Some people also think that my pictures are photographs, but I use my computer like an easel. I have two styles of work. One is completely painted using the airbrush facility, the other is created from stock images, Photoshopped and airbrushed. People tend to prefer the latter as it looks like an actual photograph of the event and that is what excites them.’

It was not long after I had started to exhibit and sell Paul’s work in my gallery that he announced a desire to stage an exhibition. ‘I had always wanted to have a solo exhibition of my work and because I feel so passionate about remembering our servicemen, I set about creating a completely new collection commemorating the centenary of WWl. I am very excited to be able to show this new collection which will depict real events in WWl aircraft history. I also want to raise money for Help For Heroes. Coming from Aldershot, the former home of the British Army, and from a military family, I’ve lost close friends and colleagues over the years in conflicts around the world. This kind of experience always stays with you.’

The Paul Bell Art of War exhibition runs from Tuesday, 5 August- Sunday 17 August at Art in the Heart Gallery, 47 Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1HA. Visitors will be able to see brand new work depicting WWl aircraft in action. An exclusive Private View is being held Monday, 4 August, 5.30pm-9pm. Tickets are available online at www.artintheheart.co.uk or at the gallery. £5.00 includes a glass of champagne, canapés and first dibs at the work. Ten per cent of the sales will be donated to Help for Heroes. There will also be smaller prints and related merchandise. The event is sponsored by Joseph Hackmey of the Hackmey Group.

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