British automotive and aviation artist Michael Turner has passed away aged 91. He is understood to have died peacefully at home following a long battle with skin cancer. Turner had been deeply affected by the loss of his wife, Helen, in 2023, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. In spite of these challenges, he is reported to have remained active until very near the end.
Michael was born in Harrow, Middlesex, in 1934 and grew up in the London suburbs during the Second World War. Witnessing the bravery of the Royal Air Force proved a formative influence, inspiring him to begin sketching aeroplanes in his school exercise books – much to his teachers’ frustration.
A second passion took hold during a family holiday to the Isle of Man in 1947, when he saw the first post-war running of the British Empire Trophy. Motorsport became permanently intertwined with his life, and he attended as many events as possible, including the inaugural meetings at Silverstone and Goodwood.
After completing his education, Michael spent a year at Art College before two years of National Service with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He then worked for three years in London advertising studios before going freelance in 1957.
Freelance life gave Michael the freedom to travel to many of the world’s greatest motorsport events. He believed first-hand experience was essential for portraying demanding subjects with authority and feeling. Throughout his life he visited major race tracks across the globe and attended multiple Grands Prix each season.
The same philosophy guided his aviation artwork. Over the years he flew in a wide range of service aircraft, from the Second World War–era Tiger Moth and Lancaster to the Harrier and Tornado. He also had the rare opportunity to fly aerobatic sorties with the Red Arrows in pursuit of authentic reference material, and later earned his Private Pilot’s Licence and flew his own Chipmunk.
Michael was a founding member of the Guild of Aviation Artists, serving twice as chairman before becoming president. He was also an honorary fellow of the Guild of Motoring Artists. His clients ranged from racing drivers, teams, sponsors and pilots to motor and aircraft manufacturers, the RAF and numerous private collectors. His work was exhibited widely, including one-man shows in London and New York, and specialist exhibitions across the UK and Europe.
Six books of his paintings were published over the course of his long career, covering subjects including Formula 1, the aircraft of the RAF and Luftwaffe, aviation art, the Monaco Grand Prix and more.
Michael married his wife Helen in 1960, and together they raised two daughters, Alison and Suzanne, and their son, Graham.
Michael lived a full and extraordinary life, achieving wide acclaim for his work and earning admiration across the aviation and motorsport communities. He will be missed.
