The British Royal Navy’s involvement with aviation started on its roller coaster ride with them trying to get the No.1 rigid naval airship the Mayfly up, it broke its back and came down again, this seemed to portend the future of Naval Aviation which for its hundred years of existence has had an almost non stop up and down battle for survival and it was only the foresight of a few Naval officers and the donation of two Short biplanes which started it on its glorious future

The Royal Navy was the senior service and all the top brass were Battleship Admirals who treated the then Naval Air Service as a step child, even giving it to Field Marshall Jan Smuts to help start the Royal Air Force after World War 1. With the result there is very little reference to the aircraft they flew and most of the photos of naval aircraft were shot by amateur sailors with Kodak baby brownies in black and white, usually out of focus and of deck crashes.

 I saw a gap in the market and did paintings of every fixed wing aircraft to have served on Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers since 1938 to 2006 when the last carrier was scrapped.

I therefore have a unique and only collection of every Fleet Air Arm aircraft in full colour, anywhere in the world. 

I approached Prince Philip, as Admiral of the Fleet and asked him if he would write my foreword. Naturally he wanted to see the paintings and when he did he was delighted to do the foreword, and in fact he has the front cover painting hanging in Sandringham Palace.

I have printed 15 limited edition books and am looking for a major corporate sponsor, so I can do a proper print run which will giving economy of scale in order to deliver a marketable price.

Press release

Derrick Dickens

16 May 2010

Tel 082 316 2783.



More about Derrick Dickens on www.inkwazi-lodge.co.za/gallery.html
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