Racing Colours: Motor Racing Compositions 1908-2009

Now in paperback! “In many respects it is a book unlike many others. It is an individual, as all good books should be. It is quirky, eclectic, eccentric even, but in a world intent on reproducing that which has already been regurgitated I personally felt the need for something a bit more idiosyncratic, I can only hope that you agree!” – Simon Owen A well known artist specialising in racing car subjects, the late Simon Owen's detailed, expertly executed work conveys the life, the vibrancy, the essence and passion of motorsports and racing cars, like no other. Simon's work is a visual feast for lovers of automotive art and motorsport. Over the last few years, Simon had worked on developing a series of stunningly detailed computer-generated digital images, focussing on individual racing cars and their liveries. Seventy-seven of these images have been compiled to create this extraordinary book, and each is presented with a relevant quote from a legend of the motor racing world. Along with these beautiful and unique artworks, this book represents a chance to gain a rare peek into the artist's working methods, revealing some of his developmental work and showing how the digital images were constructed.

About the Author :
Musician, lyricist and songwriter, the late Simon Owen’s talents were many. But it was his love of racing cars, initiated during his early childhood, which developed into the visual art forms he loved – from precise and delicate watercolours, progressing to the world of computer-generated digital art. To all those who knew him, Simon was a perfectionist; this outstanding book represents the peak of his work, the coming together of a great skill and the artist that was Simon Owen.

Review :
Not only is there Owen's artwork on each subject but a lovely touch featuring a quote from one of the main protagonists involved with the vehicle in period. A charming book when first published in 2014, and it has lost non of its charm during the intervening four years. If you missed it first time round then this lovely paperback version should be grabbed. - tkc. Simon Owen's passion for racing - as well as his considerable artistic talent - is lauded in this compact Veloce paperback. It comprises some 200 pages of iconic liveries - all produced on computer, but far from lacking in feel. Each is accompanied by a quote relating to a driver, vehicle or key race - which makes it all rather charming. - Classic & Sports Car. It isn't a history book, although it covers a wide spectrum of racing history. The quotes are at once hooks to draw you in, as well as being thought provoking, bringing home the passion, exhilaration and grief in motor racing. The images show that although things change, some things still remain the same - across the 90 years of motor racing covered, all cars still have a race number, are still identified in the same way. The introduction says that they book is a reflection of the perception of the author, so as a memorial it has achieved what it intended. - www.silhouet.com. No run-of-the-mill motoring art book, this. The pictures on every alternate page of this compact publication are far from what you'd expect from a conventional racing book on racing cars. These are computer generated, full of close-up images of notable racing cars throughout the history of the sport. The majority are views looking down on the nose of each car, while some are side views of the bodywork and in the case of cars from an earlier era, heads-on views of their radiators. They're all the same size and in every case on the right-hand page, each view being accompanied, on the facing page, by quotes and anecdotes from drivers and personalities involved with each car. The images are so realistic that it's hard to believe they are computer generated. – Speedscene.