PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA – (August 4, 2009) – Nicola Wood, one of the world’s most notable automotive artists and a member of the exclusive Automotive Fine Arts Society, has departed from her usual French pre-war classic subjects to create her latest masterpiece, “Ferrari 512 S.” The new painting, a 36” x 48” oil on canvas that features a 1970 Ferrari 512 S, will be unveiled during the 24th annual AFAS exhibit at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® on August 16. The AFAS is comprised of automotive artists from all corners of the globe who create subjects in a variety of mediums including watercolors, acrylics, oils, wood and various metals.
“I’ve always painted cars that I like and that make me happy, which has led me to focus more on classic French marques like Delahaye and Bugatti,” explained Wood. “But when I laid eyes on this Ferrari racecar at a concours a few years ago, I couldn’t stop smiling. I recently located the photo I took and decided to make it my feature piece for the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours exhibit.”
Wood’s painting features the 1970 Ferrari 512 S (Chassis No. 1006) on display at a West Coast concours in front of a set of glass doors, where attendants can be seen peering at the Italian racer. She uses extreme detail to illustrate the numerous people, blue sky and palm trees reflecting in the doors. Wood pays homage to the Ferrari’s racing history by including a bouquet of red roses in front of the car, along with her signature leopard print wrapped around the flowers.
Chassis No. 1006 was part of Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team and was driven by some of the period’s top performers, such as Sam Posey, Ronnie Bucknum, Pedro Rodriguez and Masten Gregory. It showed tremendous versatility during its racing career, competing in a pair of Sebring races, Le Mans, two CanAm races and the grueling 24 Hours of Daytona, where it finished second in 1971. One of only a few left in existence and in pristine condition, Ferrari 512 S chassis No. 1006 fetched over $3.5 million at an RM Auctions event in 2007.
“I fell in love with this Ferrari before it sold for millions of dollars,” added Wood. “But I knew it was special from the moment I saw it. From its signature, bold ‘Rosso Corsa’ red paint to its wide stance and racing insignia, there was no doubt that this car was a prize possession.”
Wood will also debut a new Bugatti painting at the Concours. It features the Shah of Persia’s elegant 1939 Bugatti Type 57-C on the shore of Garrapata State Park, just seven miles south of Pebble Beach.
Wood has achieved international acclaim for her romantic oil paintings, which often combine famous individuals, places and period automobiles. She has given a one-woman show in New York at SoHo’s Goldstrum Gallery, as well as a major retrospective at the Petersen Automotive Museum in a venture sponsored by Cadillac. Her accolades include the prestigious Peter Helck Award presented by her AFAS peers in Pebble Beach for outstanding work, four Athena Awards of Excellence at the Pebble Beach Concours and the Raymond E. Holland Award for Vision and Creativity in Automotive Art. Wood received commissions to create the official Pebble Beach Concours poster artwork in 1993, 1997 and 2002.
Born in Northern England, Wood studied classical art at the Royal College of Art in London, graduated with first class honors and received a Fulbright Scholarship to Parsons School of Design in New York. Her studio is located in Los Angeles.
For more information about Nicola Wood and her artwork, visit www.nicolawood.com.