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By renowned aviation artist Gerald
Coulson, aviation art prints of the Supermarine Spitfire. Gerald Coulson
brings this top Royal Air Force fighter to life in spitfire prints
Chariots of Fire, Scramble, Magic of Flight, Spitfire Magic, Johnny Comes
Home and Troubleshooters.
Gerald Coulson has been painting
professionally for over 30 years. the Fine Art Guild have placed him
among the top ten best selling UK artists no less than 15 times in 12
years - 3 times at No. 1. Coulson's first love was aircraft,
studying them and drawing them at every opportunity, from an early
age. His apprenticeship as an aircraft engineer then as an RAF
Technician and later an engineer with British Airways, have allowed him an
insight and intimate knowledge of the aircraft he paints. Now a Vice
President, he is a founder member of the Guild of Aviation Artists and
four times winner of the Flight International Trophy for outstanding
aviation painting. He qualified for his pilots licence in 1960 and
is still actively flying today - mostly vintage aircraft and can often be
seen buzzing over the Fens of Cambridgeshire in a Tiger Moth.
Whatever the subject, whether aviation, landscape or portrait, his ability
to capture the realism and mood of the scene is unsurpassed, making him
one of the most collected and highly regarded artists in the world today.
Royal
Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph
up to
The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I
34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575
miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various
Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine
guns, for MK's V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning
machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or
a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed
by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936.
and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19
squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there
were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in
store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and
developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II
came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into
service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe
especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin
engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named
Seafires. By the end of
production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408
Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a
total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires
in front line use until April 1954.
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First Light by Gerald Coulson.
In Gerald Coulsons fine study First Light, Mk Vb Spitfires of 92 Squadron climb out of Biggin Hill at the outset of an early morning patrol on a cold winters morning in February 1941. Leaving the mist behind as the first beams of light streak across the heavens, they will turn to the east and steel themselves to meet the enemy, high in the dawn sky.
Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Print paper size 27 inches x 21 inches (69cm x 53cm). Price £135.00 Signatories: Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Wellum DFC; Sqn Ldr Neville Duke DSO OBE DFC (deceased).
ITEM CODE DHM2588
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Evening Patrol by Gerald Coulson.
During the early part of World War II the coastline of Britain was constantly under threat, particularly the busy shipping lanes of the North Sea. As well as carrying out bombing raids on strategic coastal targets and ports such as Luftflotte 5s attack on the north-east in August 1940, allied shipping was regularly attacked at sea as the Luftwaffe tried to disrupt supplies. The RAF played a vital part in protecting these supplies, escorting fishing fleets and shipping convoys, as well as long range patrols over the sea, seeking enemy activity and intercepting high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. These patrols were often long and arduous with pilots running the gauntlet of, if shot down, ditching into the sea. Often pilots would survive being hit and baling out, only to succumb to the freezing and hostile waters of the North Sea. Often fighter squadrons being rested during the Battle of Britain, would be moved to northern locations such as Acklington and Leconfield, and carry out coastal and sea patrols before returning to the more intense fighting in the south. Flying over the Humber Estuary as the sun is setting, pilots of 610 Sqn return their MKII Spitfires to Leconfield after a convoy patrol late in 1940.
Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £180.00 Signed by Group Captain Desmond Sheen DFC* (deceased), Wing Commander Paddy Barthropp DFC AFC (deceased), Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased), Group Captain Tom Dalton Morgan DSO, DFC*, OBE (deceased), Squadron Leader Basil Stapleton DFC (deceased), Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC* (deceased), Squadron Leader Arthur Leigh DFC, DFM (deceased) and Wing Commander Harbourne Stephen CBE, DSO, DFC (deceased).
ITEM CODE GC0101
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Chariots of Fire by Gerald Coulson (P)
Chariots of Fire depicts Spitfires of 610 squadron (County of Chester) engaging Messerschmitts 190E of the Luftwaffe over the South Coast of England, August 1940.
Original painting by Gerald Coulson. . Price £
ITEM CODE GC0474
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Scramble by Gerald Coulson.
A telephone rings at a typical flight dispersal: a call from Operations sends pilots and ground crew running for aircraft ready fuelled and armed. A mechanic starts the engine of the spitfire in the foreground and it explodes into life, blasting out blue exhaust gases, the slipstream flattening the grass and kicking up dust. A young sergeant pilot with feelings a mixture of fear and excitement, runs for his machine. The painting captures the tense atmosphere of a much repeated action from these crucial events of the Battle of Britain, as Spitfires of No.66 Squadron scramble.
Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £150.00
Appleford signature edition of 44 prints (Nos 801 - 844) from the signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £180.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Alexander N R L Appleford
Freeborn signature edition of 30 prints from the limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £180.00 Signed by Wing Commander John Freeborn DFC*.
ITEM CODE GC0189
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Battle of Britain by Gerald Coulson.
A surprise dive bombing attack at 12.45pm as Spitfires of 65 squadron were taking off. 148 bombs were dropped on the airfield and hangars. The entire squadron got airborne with one exception, its engine was stopped by the blast from one of the bombs.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm) . Price £180.00 Signed by E D Glaser (deceased).
ITEM CODE GC0544
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Spitfire Magic by Gerald Coulson.
Sold out at publisher. We have the last 150 remaining prints.
Open edition print. Image size 28 inches x 14 inches (71cm x 36cm). Price £43.00
**Open edition print. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size 28 inches x 14 inches (71cm x 36cm). Price £28.00
ITEM CODE GC0654
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In the Sunlit Silence by Gerald Coulson.
Spitfire Mk1As of 92 Squadron.
Open edition print. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £16.00
ITEM CODE GC0235
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Troubleshooters by Gerald Coulson.
Sold out at publisher. We have the last 120 remaining prints.
Open edition print. Image size 24 inches x 12 inches (61cm x 31cm). Price £40.00
ITEM CODE GC0772
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Evening Flight by Gerald Coulson.
Open edition print. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £18.00
ITEM CODE GC0408
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Johnny Comes Home by Gerald Coulson.
Johnnie Johnson, the RAFs highest-scoring fighter pilot of World War II flies his Spitfire F MkIXE back to base in Kenley.
Open edition print. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm) . Price £20.00
ITEM CODE GC0374
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Quartet by Gerald Coulson.
The inspiration for this subject was principally the setting. A low sun turning the tops of towering cumulus to a soft ochre against a backdrop of azure. Through breaks in these massive clouds can be seen a landscape beginning to fade, greens and yellows changing to liquid blues and mauves. All that is now required to complete the picture are the lines of a beautiful aeroplane, provided here by four Spitfires on No.66 Sqn. The aircraft shown are LZ-M, LZ-N, LZ-K and LZ-X. LZ-X was flown by H R Dizzy Allen throughout the Battle of Britain.
Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £70.00
Battle of Britain signature edition of 150 prints from the limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Wing Commander John Freeborn DFC* and Group Captain Byron Duckenfield AFC.
ITEM CODE LE0261
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High Spirits 1940 by Gerald Coulson.
The new boy follows the more experienced squadron pilot, learning the manoeuvres which will be so important in the months to come. The two Spitfires fly over the southern coast which will soon become the air battlefield on which the face the German bomber and fighter squadrons during the Battle of Britain.
Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £70.00
Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £70.00
ITEM CODE LE0253
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| Scramble by Gerald Coulson
A telephone rings at a typical flight dispersal: a call from Operations
sends pilots and ground crew running for aircraft ready fuelled and armed.
A mechanic starts the engine of the spitfire in the foreground and it
explodes into life, blasting our blue exhaust gases, the slipstream
flattening the grass and kicking up dust. A young sergeant pilot with
feelings a mixture of fear and excitement, runs for his machine. The
painting captures the tense atmosphere of a much repeated action from
these crucial events of over fifty years ago.
Battle of Britain by Gerald Coulson 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition,
Manston, 12th August 1940 A surprise dive bombing attack at 12.45pm as spitfires of 65 squadron
were taking off. 148 bombs were dropped on the airfield and hangars. The
entire squadron got airborne with one exception, its engine was stopped by
the blast from one of the bombs.Signed by artist and Sqn Ldr E D Glaser.
Evening Patrol by Gerald Coulson Flying over the Humber Estuary as the sun is setting, pilots of 610
Sqn return their MKII Spitfires to Leconfield after a convoy patrol late
in 1940. Print is signed by Group Captain Desmond Sheen, Wing Commander Paddy
Barthropp, Squadron LEader Neville Duke, Group Captain Tom Dalton-Morgan,
Squadron LEader B G Stapme Stapleton, Air Commodore Peter Brothers,
Squadron Leader A C Leigh and Wing Commander H M Stephen. |
| During the early part of WWII the coastline
of Britain was constantly under threat, particularly the busy shipping
lanes of the North Sea. As well as carrying out bombing raids on strategic
coastal targets and ports such as Luftflotte 5's attack on the north-east
in August 1940, allied shipping was regularly attacked at sea as the
Luftwaffe tried to disrupt supplies.
The RAF played a vital part in protecting these supplies, escorting
fishing fleets and shipping convoys, as well as long range patrols over
the sea, seeking enemy activity and intercepting high altitude
reconnaissance aircraft. These patrols were often long and arduous with
pilots running the gauntlet of, if shot down, ditching into the sea. Often
pilots would survive being hit and baling out, only to succumb to the
freezing and hostile waters of the North Sea.
Often fighter squadrons being rested during the Battle of Britain,
would be moved to northern locations such as Acklington and Leconfield,
and carry out coastal and sea patrols before returning to the more intense
fighting in the south. |
| The Magic of Flight by Gerald Coulson
Now in his 70's Alex Henshaw still displays the qualities that helped him to become one of the best known and celebrated pilots not only for
test-flying during the second world war but also for racing.
During his prestigious flying career, Alex flew approximately 122
different types of aircraft and accrued a total of about 6000 flying hours
leading him to be awarded the MBE in 1945 for wartime service.
Gerry Coulson considered that The Magic of Flight won the finest
accolade when he received a letter from Alex Henshaw saying what a fine
piece of work Gerry had created and how much pleasure he had derived from
signing this limited edition.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Print serial number GC379.
Image size 24" x 16". Print price £105. Signed by Alex Henshaw.
SOLD OUT |
SOLD OUT
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| © Solomon & Whitehead Ltd |
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Chariots of Fire by Gerald Coulson
As a founder member of the Guild of Aviation Artists, there can be few
who can depict the drama and atmosphere of the skies as well as Gerald
Coulson. His fine eye for detail and his talent for painting objects at
speed, not to mention many years of flying experience, give his paintings
a depth and quality essential to the serious aviation art collector.
Chariots of Fire depicts Spitfires of 610 squadron (County of Chester)
engaging Messerschmitts 190E of the Luftwaffe over the South Coast of
England, August 1940.
Signed by Air Vice Marshal Johnnie Johnson who commanded this squadron
during World War II..
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Print serial number GC474.
Image size 27" x 18". Print price £176. Signed by Johnnie
Johnson. PRINT NOW SOLD OUT.
ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING FOR SALE
36" X 24" SPECIAL PRICE £7,500 SOLD |
| Low Level Encounter by Gerald Coulson
A Spitfire and Bf109 are locked in close combat chasing each other down
to just a few hundred feet both at full throttle, turning and diving, each
trying to get the other in his sights. A downed Heinkel He111 lies in the
corn field below whilst high above them vapour trails of combat weave
through the summer sky as the battle rages on.
| Signed limited edition of 195 prints with four
signatures. Overall print size 24.5" x 18". Print price
£125. Order code GC773A. SOLD
OUT
Signatures: Group Captain John Peel, Wing Commander George
Unwin, Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob and Generalleutnant Gunther Rall. |
| Collectors
edition of 50 prints with 6 signatures. Overall print size
24.5" x 18". Print price £160. Order code GC773B.
NOW
SOLD OUT
Signatures: As Above with Sqn Leader
George 'Ben' Bennions and Air Commodore John Ellacombe. |
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| Aces Edition of 30 prints which include two pencil
drawing prints with a total of 25 signatures. Overall print size
24.5" x 18". Order code GC773C. NOW SOLD OUT
Signatories: As for Collectors edition plus Air Commodore Peter
Brothers, Air Commodore Sir Archie Winskill. |
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| July 10th to October 31st 1940 - The Battle of
Britain, a monumental event in British history and a major turning point
of WWII. During those few summer months the RAF and Luftwaffe fought what
was to become the most crucial and decisive aerial conflict in history.
Never before or since has air combat been so intensive over such a short
period of time.
The Luftwaffe had over 3000 aircraft at its disposal and the RAF were
outnumbered more than five to one with less than 600 Spitfire and
Hurricane fighters. During this intense battle fighter pilots of the RAF
were pushed to the limits of exhaustion, very often flying five or six
sorties in a single day. A day would begin at 3 and 4 o'clock in the
morning when they would prepare to be transported to their dispersal
points and it was common for them to fly and fight until dusk, only
returning to base to refuel and rearm.
The pilots of the Luftwaffe also had many disadvantages to contend with
whilst providing escorts for bombing raids over the British mainland.
Crossing the Channel from their bases in Northern France, they were at the
limits of their range and often only had ten minutes of fuel available for
actual combat. Pilots often found that in the right hands the Spitfire and
Me109 fighters were equally matched with each aircraft having certain
advantages over the other. Often intense duels developed, making pilots on
both sides respectful of the others skill. |
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