My
‘Visual Approach’ Blog!
21/12/09 RAF SYERSTON BOOK – Update.
Bright, cold day today; with a dusting of snow and a layer of ice to make
it very seasonal!
As
2009 draws to a close and I reflect upon the Syerston book project, which
I have been working on for nearly a year now in my spare-time; I would
like to thank the many people I have met who have contributed stories,
photos and information; plus the staff at ACCGS for the opportunity to
visit and photographically record the few remaining historic structures
before the modernisation scheme sweeps them away. The basic design and
layout of the book is now complete: my next task is to finish off numerous
paintings and the all important text - if I can make sense of all those
scribblings in notebooks!
Have
a feeling that this might be my last blog of 2009; so if it is; have a
great Christmas and New Year!
15/12/09 RAF
NEWTON BOOK – Best-selling local history book.
The
latest batch of Last Post at Newton books, that arrived at the end
of November are continuing to sell fast from retail outlets such as the
Nottingham branch of Waterstone’s; where it has been one of their
best selling local history books. A big-thank you to everyone who has made
this book a success.
30/11/09
“STEAM AROUND
BRITAIN” POSTCARDS
Started research work today on the next two postcards in the Steam
Around Britain series for
Nottingham based publishers; Reflections of a Bygone Age. The previous
two cards, launched in early November featured the Llangollen and
Strathspay Railways. These were the first in the long-running series
painted by myself following the retirement of my father, Michael O’Brien
from the postcard artwork scene.
27/11/09
WADDINGTON 2010 AIRSHOW POSTER
Just
returned from a photo-shoot at RAF Waddington. My mission on this bright
and chilly autumn day: to gain reference material high-up on a
‘cherry-picker’, looking down on an E-3 Sentry, specially parked out on
the pan; which will help me with the composition for the 2010 poster
illustration. The opportunity has also been taken to incorporate the
show’s new logo (which can be seen on the airshow website) into a brand
new poster layout for the new decade.
27/10/09 RAF
NEWTON BOOK SELLING FAST – ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!
Last Post at Newton
is selling fast from retail outlets such as Waterstone’s in
Nottingham, Newark
Air
Museum, the Nottingham Tourism Centre on Smithy
Row and the BookCase in Lowdham. As the publisher, I have sold out
completely after another large order from Waterstone’s today. This
means that I am currently unable to accept any direct orders, but copies
are still available from the stores mentioned above. I have ordered
another batch of Last Post at Newton copies which should arrive to
me from the printers by the end of November; to keep the Christmas supply
chain stocked.
01/10/09 RAF SYERSTON BOOK PROGRESSES
Since
the last update, my 256 page colour mock-up is now at an advanced stage
and has met the approval of the select few who have seen it. Phew, glad
I’m on the right track! Since the Spring I have interviewed many of those
directly connected with the airfield and managed to source over 200
images; many taken myself since the mid ‘80s, including some from a recent
aerial photo-shoot; although I am still interested to see what other
archive images are out there. Just need to get started on the 24 aviation
paintings, 10 line drawings now and….. make a start on the text! So, if
you have any old photographs, memorabilia or a story to tell, please get
in touch on 01949 877590. Finally: a big thank-you to everyone who has
helped with the project, as I couldn’t have got this far without your
support.
09/09/09 RAF
NEWTON BOOK – Second (Revised) edition on sale
Following the sell-out success of the first collector’s edition of
Last Post at
Newton – the life of RAF
Newton back
in November 2008; the second and revised edition goes on sale from
22nd September 2009. Revisions
include:
1) Rare unpublished plans of the proposed concrete
runways that were never constructed. Plus other wartime plans printed on
the endpapers.
2) An unpublished photo of the Vulcan bomber that landed
on the grass runways 45 years ago this week. The new photograph shows the
Vulcan in No.2 Hangar along with other instructional airframes.
3) The latest photos of Balfour Beatty’s “occupation” of
Newton during the
A46 work.
4) The story of 93-year old Polish pilot Jozef Warchal
who has given his untold story of his escape from Poland through German
occupied Europe to the safety of England. He then flew Spitfires over
France taking the
fight back to the enemy before serious head injuries sustained in a crash
took him away from the frontline and was posted to
Newton
as an instructor.
In
short, 35 new photographs have been added to bring the total up to 432
colour and black and white illustrations throughout. The page extent
remains the same at 288 pages as do the overall dimensions at
240x170mm, Hardback plus colour jacket. All the above for £21-95
per book: the same price as the first-edition; despite the increase in
printing costs.
Local
free delivery / collection can be arranged, otherwise please add
the following Postage and Packing rates per book:
UK
Postage and Packing = £6-00
AirMail to
Spain =
£8-00
AirMail to
Australia, USA and Canada = £14-00
To
purchase a signed copy direct from myself, please make a cheque payable to
‘Timothy O’Brien’ and post to: Timothy O’Brien, Tobbit
Publishing,
15 Angelica Court, Bingham,
Nottingham, NG13 8SU. England.
BOOK SHOPS THAT ARE STOCKING THE SECOND EDITION:
Newark Air Museum
– Winthorpe,
Newark, Notts
Bingham News & Card
Centre – Eaton
Place, Bingham, Notts
The BookCase – Lowdham,
Notts
Strays Bookshop -
Newark, Notts
Waterstones –
Nottingham, Bridlesmith Gate branch
Nottingham Tourism Centre
– Smithy Row,
Nottingham
31/08/09 MADCAT ILLUSTRATION FOR
AEROPLANE MAGAZINE
A
colour illustration I recently produced of a US MadCat Catalina attacking
a U-Boat appears in the latest edition (October 2009) of Aeroplane
and accompanies an article titled “Madcats & Mousetraps”.
NOTE: Original painting available for sale
14/07/09 NEW
AIRSHOW MINI-POSTERS – Raising funds for RAFA and
RAFBF
Special limited edition packs of 14 classic Airshow posters; are now
available to buy. Each card is A5 size and features Finningley and
Waddington poster artwork of Tim O’Brien GAvA and Wilfred Hardy GAvA
dating back to 1981. Cost: £5 plus £1-50 P&P.
Overseas purchasers: please email for up to date Airmail fares. Please
send cheque payable to: ‘Timothy O’Brien’
and post to
15 Angelica Court, Bingham,
Nottingham, NG13 8SU. England.
Proceeds will support RAF Benevolent Fund and RAFA.
03/07/09 POSTAGE STAMPS – 100 Years of
Naval Aviation
Twenty-eight pieces of artwork I produced for CASCO Philatelic Services;
part of the 288 Group are now available as postage stamps. A set of four
designs are for each of the following 7 countries: Solomon Islands; St
Helena; Kiribati; Indian Ocean Territories; Bahamas; British Antarctic
Territory and Tristan da Cunha. All feature Fleet Air Arm aircraft from
1909 to the present day: available direct from CASCO or the Westminster
Collection.
23/06/2009 SIGNING PRINTS
Busy
signing Lancaster midi-prints today for the Westminster Collection. This
one seems to be proving as popular as the Spitfire midi-print judging by
the quantity! NOTE: Many original pieces of artwork
produced in this print series are available for sale; POA.
03/06/2009
VISIT TO BBMF / RAF NEWTON BOOK SECOND EDITION
Visited the BBMF at Coningsby today along with 93 year old Polish pilot
Jozef Warchal who, courtesy of Sqn Ldr Al Pinner MBE. was re-united with a
Spitfire Vb (and in Polish markings too!) for the first time in 67
years since crash landing his Spit in Kent. Due to his injuries, he then
became an instructor at RAF Newton. Armed with some photos taken today and
more anecdotes, I can now add his story to the revised second edition of
'Last Post at Newton'. Jozef's story is the final revision to the book
which I hope will be ready in late -August.
01/06/2009
AIRSHOW POSTER COMMEMORATIVE PACKS
Been
talking to the Airshow Office at Waddington today for an update about an
exciting new range of mini-posters (A5 size) featuring artwork by Wilfred Hardy GAvA (poster
artist from 1981 to 2005) and myself (poster artist
from 2006 to present).
28/05/2009 CHRISTMAS CARDS
Painting snow scenes and Santa Claus during May is bizarre I know, but
this week I am working on two new TOB Cartoon Christmas card designs. I'll
post images when the cards are printed. NOTE:
Originals available for sale; POA.
18/05/2009 A PAINTING FEATURES IN THE RAF
YEARBOOK
Just
bought my copy of the 2009 RAF Yearbook and was pleasantly surprised to
find my second commission for 5 (AC) Sqn featured on page 79 in a
photograph next to the CO, Group Captain Harry Kemsley.
6/05/2009 LATEST 'AEROPLANE' ILLUSTRATION
I
have just delivered two pen drawings for the 'Halibag Down' story for
the next edition of Aeroplane, a Special ‘Handley Page’ issue which is out
on 1st June. NOTE: Originals now sold.
30/04/2009 MORE SYERSTON BOOK RESEARCH
This
week I have been carrying out more interviews for first-hand accounts of
those stationed at Syerston. Its amazing that once you scratch the surface
you find a wealth of stories that are lying 'un-tapped' out there. Even
though I hadn't planned to carry out this work until later in the year; it
was a case of striking while the iron was hot as opportunities arose to
talk to those involved!
18/04/2009 FINISHED COVER TO ‘GUY GIBSON
VC – THE GLORIOUS DAMBUSTER’
Here
is a testimonial from Susan Econicoff, MD of Speedman Press in response to
recieving the finished book cover; “We needed a cover design for our
new book Guy Gibson VC – The Glorious Dambuster and, knowing of Tim
O’Brien’s aviation illustrations, asked him to help. We had only a vague
idea of what we wanted so left it to Tim to provide us with some
suggestions. The resulting book cover has exceeded all expectations
– it is a stunning, atmospheric piece of art and we are delighted with it.
Tim is a joy to work with and we will definitely be asking for his help
with our future publications.” If you would like to purchase a copy,
please go to
www.speedmanpress.co.uk for more details. NOTE:
Original now sold.
31/03/2009 WADDINGTON INTERNATIONAL
AIRSHOW POSTER
I
am in the last stages of completing the poster artwork for the 2009
Waddington International Airshow which takes place on 4th/5th
July and this year incorporates the 60th Anniversary of NATO. A
last minute addition for the ‘Inset’ artwork is of course the Vulcan which
has now secured its much needed funding. I hope they repeat the Lancaster
and Vulcan flypast this year!
17/03/2009 ‘SECRET PROJECTS’ & GUY GIBSON BOOK COVERS
I am
currently working on two book cover illustrations, one for Midland
Counties (Ian Allan) as part of their on-going Secret Project series and
another for a book about Guy Gibson for Speedman Press.
05/03/2009 ‘AEROPLANE’ MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION
My
latest pen illustrations for ‘Aeroplane’ magazine (IPC Media) feature a
Royal Navy Phantom and a US Navy Skywarrior involved in a ‘friendly fire’
incident in 1972. They will appear in the May issue, published on 1st
April 2009. NOTE: Originals now sold.
10/02/2009 THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY BOOK
COVER
Have
just been ‘googling’ to see if a book cover I produced last summer for
‘The Fantastic Journey’ by Martyn Croft, an adventure fantasy published by
Arima Publishing had in fact been published. And it has and can be seen on
Arima’s website. Will have to buy a copy myself!
02/02/2009
RAF SYERSTON BOOK
After publication of the second/revised edition of the RAF Newton book,
see details below, I will start in earnest on the next book project which
will concentrate on RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire. If you, or you know of
anyone with a story to tell about Syerston, or have photographs/paper
ephemera/memorabilia (airshow programmes, menus, Christmas cards etc)
that you would like to see appear in the book, please contact me on 01949
877590 or write to me at 15 Angelica Court, Bingham, Nottingham, NG13 8SU.
Note – any material loaned will be returned and images credited.
09/01/2009
RAF NEWTON BOOK
“LAST POST AT NEWTON” by Timothy O’Brien GAvA
The
books were initially launched on Saturday 15th November 2008 at the successful 'O'Brien' family art exhibition in
Nottingham; with a follow
up 'meet and greet' session at the former RAF Newton base on the 6th
December. This first edition proved very popular and sold out in just four
weeks. A second/revised edition is currently in production which I hope
to release in late September 2009.
