A FAB new artwork has been commissioned to celebrate Thunderbirds and friends’ visit to Worcester.
Illustrator Graham Bleathman has painted the ‘Thunderbirds over Worcester’ artwork titled Worcester: 2066. It is going on display in the 54321FAB! exhibition opening at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on Saturday (July 4).
The painting shows the iconic Thunderbirds vehicles flying over notable Worcester landmarks including Worcester Cathedral and the River Severn. Prints and postcards of the artwork will be on sale in the museum shop.
Bleathman, one of the country’s leaing illustrators, is well known for his work on Gerry Anderson’s TV series including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray. He is best known for producing cross-section, ‘cutaway’ illustrations of spacecraft, vehicles and locations from these shows, as well as Dan Dare and Wallace & Gromit.
Bleathman will also be giving a talk at the art gallery and museum on Saturday July 18 from 11am until 12pm about his experiences working on these projects and his new work Worcester: 2066.
The exhibition 54321 FAB! is a display of original puppets, models, art and memorabilia from the much-loved 1960s TV shows of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.
Visitors will revisit their childhood favourites including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Stingray and more, and will have an unprecedented opportunity to see screen-used original puppets from the shows.
Original puppets including Lady Penelope and Joe 90 will be on display, having been painstakingly restored to their original condition as filmed in the 1960s. Other characters which no longer exist in their original form, such as the heroic Thunderbirds pilots, have been rebuilt from original moulds and materials to create new working replica puppets.
The exhibition also features models of iconic vehicles such as Fireball XL5, Stingray and the Thunderbirds craft.
Museums Worcestershire senior curator Deborah Fox said: “We are so pleased to show this brand new artwork which celebrates 54321FAB! coming to Worcester! The exhibition will appeal to fans of all ages and we’re sure it will be a big hit with visitors throughout the summer holidays.”
Visit www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk for more details.
