PRESS RELEASE | All press releases
15 June 2010 14:00 GMT / Scania in the United Kingdom
A world's first as the new Scania R 730 goes PopBangColour!
Ian Cook, the "PopBangColour" Artist-in-Residence at the Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon, is to go for a world's first as he attempts to create a giant size 3 x 1.5m painting of Scania's newly-launched R 730, the world's most powerful truck, in a single day.
What makes Ian's undertaking especially unusual is that rather than using paintbrushes, drops of paint will be applied to the canvas by the wheels of a radio-controlled model Scania truck. Ian's unique attempt will take place during the UK Final of Young European Truck Driver, which is being held at the Motor Heritage Centre on Saturday 26 June (from 11:00am).
"With more than 5,000 tickets now distributed, the 2010 UK Final of Young European Truck Driver is set to become one of the major events on the transport industry's calendar this year. Ian's painting is one of many activities we are arranging to ensure that not only does the event achieve its primary purpose of promoting the highest standards of driving and road safety, but is also a great family day out with tonnes of fun for one and all," says Chris Love, Scania (Great Britain) Limited's General Manager – Brand and Communications.
Ian Cook graduated from Winchester School of Art with a first class honours degree in Fine Art in 2004 and has spent just over two years carving out his unique niche in the art world. A lifelong passion for automobiles, plus a gift from his then girlfriend, led him to begin painting pictures of vehicles using radio-controlled models. "My then girlfriend bought me a radio-controlled car for Christmas and said 'don't take it down your studio and don’t get paint over it' – that's what gave me the idea!" says Ian.
Since then Ian's work has been featured on the BBC's Top Gear and Blue Peter programmes, leading to nationwide recognition. To date, his most formidable commission has been to create a three-storey high portrait of racing driver Lewis Hamilton for a leading sportswear producer. More recently Ian has been seen painting on a similar scale, this time creating artwork using actual race cars, bikes and even a 1000 bhp racing truck.
Ian Cook will create his image of the new Scania R 730 in the PopBangColour marquee at Gaydon, which will be open throughout the day and available free of charge to visitors attending the UK Final of Young European Truck Driver.
Tickets for the event are available free of charge (maximum four per person) and subject to availability from:
Online at www.scania.co.uk/tonnesoffun (from 1 -18 June)
Scania Ticket Hotline: 01908 900730 (lines open 1 - 18 June)
