Cold War captured on canvas
Set against gloomy grey skies, with British jets intercepting a Russian bomber, this chilling reminder of the Cold War has been captured on canvas by a Dereham-based aviation artist.
Set against gloomy grey skies, with British jets intercepting a Russian bomber, this chilling reminder of the Cold War has been captured on canvas by a Dereham-based aviation artist.
Now Michael Rondot's stunning oil painting is set to benefit two East Anglian museums, as well as the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA).
The painting, called Lightning Cold War Intercept, was specially commissioned by businessman and former RAF controller Carl Lamb, who is now managing director of Norwich-based Almary Green Independent Financial Advisers.
It shows a pair of Lightning fighters, accompanied by a Victor tanker, intercepting a Soviet Tu-95 Bear somewhere over the North Sea during the Cold War.
The original oil painting is owned by Almary Green but 200 signed prints have been produced. They cost �150 each and a share of the sale proceeds will be presented to RAFA.
One print is being donated to the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum at RAF Neatishead, near Horning, which played a key role in the Cold War and would have been involved in such aerial encounters over the North Sea.
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Another copy is being given to the former Bawdsey radar station in Suffolk, which was used as an RAF base through the Cold War but closed in 1991.
Mr Lamb said: 'Michael Rondot worked on this painting for five months and we at Almary Green are absolutely delighted with the result. The aerial scene has a wonderfully sombre and sinister mood, and Michael's attention to detail is always remarkable. We hope the prints will prove popular among aviation enthusiasts and we intend to give a share of the sale proceeds to RAFA, which does an excellent job.'
Mr Lamb, 46, was formerly in the Fighter Control section of the RAF, including service in Norfolk, Scotland, the North-East and Europe. He served in the Falklands War in 1982, helping to defend the 'air bridge' between Ascension Island and the Falklands.
Dereham-based Mr Rondot's distinctive aircraft paintings and prints have made him one of today's most widely collected aviation artists. During a 25-year career as a pilot in the RAF he flew over 5000 hours in combat jets, including Jaguar fighter bombers during the Gulf War.
Prints of Lightning Cold War Intercept can be obtained by calling Almary Green Independent Financial Advisers on 01603 706740 or e-mailing louisa.foreman@almarygreen.com
