Lightning concept sketch

This is a very rough initial concept sketch (all my paintings start off in this way), showing the 'bones' for one of my current projects.
The English Electric Lightning is one of my all-time favourite aircraft and is normally associated with its phenomenal rate of climb and high altitude performance. Having seen them on their last Missile Practice Camp at Valley in the late 80's and finding out about them sometimes going low-level instead, the idea of combining the aircraft with the Welsh mountains in a painting was irresistable.
At low-level down the Ogwen (A5) valley in Snowdonia, as the sides appear to tighten in around him, and with a rocky wall ahead looming up rapidly, the escape lies in a tight right hand turn, hugging the contours of Pen yr Ole wen.
The aircraft is shown here pulling hard, committed into that turn.

Lightning concept sketch
Lightning concept sketch

This is a very rough initial concept sketch (all my paintings start off in this way), showing the 'bones' for one of my current projects.
The English Electric Lightning is one of my all-time favourite aircraft and is normally associated with its phenomenal rate of climb and high altitude performance. Having seen them on their last Missile Practice Camp at Valley in the late 80's and finding out about them sometimes going low-level instead, the idea of combining the aircraft with the Welsh mountains in a painting was irresistable.
At low-level down the Ogwen (A5) valley in Snowdonia, as the sides appear to tighten in around him, and with a rocky wall ahead looming up rapidly, the escape lies in a tight right hand turn, hugging the contours of Pen yr Ole wen.
The aircraft is shown here pulling hard, committed into that turn.