Land Rover 1969 Series IIa (TUD 195G)
This artwork forms part of my ongoing collaboration with Motodrome, whose deep connection with eclectic classic vehicles provides the authentic mechanical character at the core of this series. Dents, patina, quirks — and it is these lived-in details that guide my painterly interpretation.
In this portrait of a late model Series IIa Land Rover, I focus on the harmonious contrast of its Marine Blue bodywork against the classic limestone hard-top, a combination that has become an icon of the model’s understated utility. The strong shoulder line is celebrated as a marker of the post 1958 Series unique form — a design that sits between agricultural simplicity and mid-century British engineering confidence.
The vehicle is set against a wash inspired by the fiery red summer sunsets seen from the Chilterns when facing north-west — a sky that often glows with burnt amber, rose, and ember tones before slipping into violet. These colours push warmth and atmosphere behind the cool blue of the Land Rover, creating a sense of location and narrative without depicting a literal landscape.
Beneath the vehicle, expressive washes of deep marine blues, purples, and indigo greys form its grounding shadow, with drips suggesting the fluidity of memory, weather, and time. The white of the paper is intentionally preserved to give the piece air, clarity, and a contemporary feel, allowing the Land Rover’s familiar silhouette to remain the anchor of the composition.
This work aims to capture the Series IIa not simply as a vehicle, but as a companion to the landscapes it has travelled — a symbol of reliability, British rural heritage, and the quiet poetry of utility. Through digital watercolour, I aim to honour both its honest purpose and its unexpected beauty. This series IIa now sits in contented retirement on the west coast of Ireland in the hands of a well known Irish musician.
