Ray Hanna, Goodwood 98 – by artist Martin Allen

Original artwork description:

After reading many pilots accounts of their experiences during WW2 I wanted to paint a tribute to their braveness. Fittingly at the 20th anniversary of the Goodwood Revival meeting in 1998, it was Spitfire MkIX MH434, the aircraft which Ray Hanna famously flew down Goodwood’s pit straight below the height of the grandstands, that was awarded top honours. Generously displayed by Sarah Hanna, MH434 is now more than 70 yearsold and has a prolific wartime record, as well an unbroken post-war history.

Martin Allen is a London based artist. Martin came to oil painting through a circuitous route, having drawn for most of his life and being largely self-taught he was eventually re-introduced to oil painting as a preferred medium to create his varied and diverse work. The methods he uses to paint are classic ones, using layered paint applications rounded off by oil glazes. These create, add depth and harmonise colours. He has shown solo numerous times at Goodwood, and other fairs, been a finalist at the ‘London art Biennale 2019’, been published in Vogue magazine, alongside various commissions including work for the BP Shipping collection. Most recently Vogue magazine.