ALEX HENSHAW - A FLYING LEGEND
 

Alex Henshaw’s reputation as an outstanding pilot and record breaker has established his place amongst the greats in aviation history. His flying exploits, including the famous 1938 King’s Cup victory and his unbroken record for flying from London to Cape Town and back, together with his wartime role as chief production test pilot for Vickers-Supermarine, contributed to the subject matter for the large number of paintings he commissioned from Michael Turner over a period of 25 years.

It was Alex’s wish that this unique collection of paintings should be published in a book, but his death in 2007 came just before the project was completed. Alex had written an appropriate text to accompany each painting, providing a fascinating first-hand account of his many flying adventures. With the addition of many photographs from Alex’s personal albums, Michael has now finished compiling the project they started together, and this eagerly anticipated book will be published in February 2009.

Compiled by MICHAEL TURNER PFGAvA

Published by MA Publications.

LARGE LANDSCAPE FORMAT BOOK - SIZE 350mm x 297mm (14" x 12") 160 PAGES

25 FULL PAGE COLOUR PLATES and OVER 300 PHOTOGRAPHS

TEXT BY ALEX HENSHAW

PAINTINGS BY MICHAEL TURNER

FOREWORD BY ALEX HENSHAW Jr

 

 

EDITION OF 1000 COPIES

250 COPIES ONLY DE LUXE LIMITED EDITION PADDED LEATHER BOUND IN SLIP CASE - Each copy signed and numbered by Michael Turner - £240 each plus post and packing

750 COPIES CLOTH BOUND HARD BACK WITH DUST JACKET - £95 each plus post and packing

Available through Studio 88 - CLICK HERE for ordering details.

 

Alex Henshaw was a remarkable man in many ways, but his reputation as an outstanding pilot and record breaker has established his place amongst the greats in aviation history. He set a record speed when winning the prestigious King's Cup in 1938 which still stands, and most notably set a solo record flying from London to Cape Town and back in his famous Mew Gull G-AEXF which remains unbroken over seventy years later, an outstanding example of human resolve, determination and physical endurance. At the outbreak of war in 1940, he joined Vickers-Armstrongs at Castle Bromwich as Chief Production Test Pilot, and is reputed to have personally test flown more than 10 per cent of all Spitfire and Seafire aircraft manufactured during the war years. From the end of the war until 1948, Alex Henshaw worked for the Miles Aircraft Company in South Africa, where he survived more adventures over the vast continent before returning home to devote himself to family business interests.

He met aviation and motoring artist Michael Turner in 1979 when Michael was commissioned to produce a painting for the cover of his book 'Flight of the Mew Gull'. Impressed by the work he started commissioning further paintings, each depicting a facet of Henshaw's remarkable flying career. As the years went by their friendship grew along with the collection, which progressively lined the walls of Alex's home in Newmarket. The paintings, produced over a period of the next twenty five years, had to portray events and emotions that only Alex had experienced, and consequently were all subject to lengthy discussion to ensure an accurate and evocative result. A man with exactingly high standards, his ultimate approval was a recognition that he was satisfied not only with the painting, but its status as an accurate interpretation of the often hazardous and life threatening situations he encountered.

 

In 2005, Alex realised that he had by then accumulated what he considered a unique collection of paintings, in that they related specifically to one person's life, and suggested that they should be published. After discussing various options at some length, Alex and Michael decided to produce a book, using the paintings as a focal point around which Alex would write a narrative in his own inimitable and exciting style. In addition to the paintings, photographs from his personal albums would be used to further embellish the contents.

At the beginning of 2007, Alex still had two chapters to write, and Michael a painting to produce, plus a few drawings to fill some gaps where no appropriate photographs existed. Tragically and unexpectedly on February 24th, Alex's heart, which had withstood so many shocks during his ninety four years, gave up, and this sudden turn of events threw everything into confusion. However, with the support of Alex's son, Michael was determined to carry the book project through to a conclusion, both as a tribute to Alex and to keep faith with their long and treasured friendship. It should be noted that Alex Henshaw's outstanding success and reputation in aviation was achieved in a mere sixteen action-packed years and, whilst the book was originally conceived around the paintings, the expansion of the text and inclusion of over three hundred photos provides an intimate flavour of the succession of astonishing events which peppered Alex Henshaw's extraordinary flying career.

 

 

 
ALEX HENSHAW PRINTS
FROM PAINTINGS by MICHAEL TURNER

CLICK HERE for details of Studio 88's range of prints reproduced from Michael Turner's paintings commissioned by Alex Henshaw to record his flying exploits. Also includes two Limited Edition Prints INDIVIDUALLY SIGNED by ALEX HENSHAW himself.

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

To browse through Studio 88's full range of paintings, prints and cards by Michael Turner and Graham Turner, enter Studio 88's online gallery -

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