Defender 90, 50th Anniversary Edition
This piece celebrates one of the most coveted modern classics in the Land Rover lineage: the 50th Anniversary Defender 90, finished in its unmistakable Atlantis Blue pearlescent, a colour that shifts and glimmers in sunlight like deep ocean water. The vehicle’s immaculate surfaces, crisp reflections and sculpted shadows lent themselves naturally to a bold, contemporary watercolour treatment — anchoring the vehicle in deep marine washes while igniting the sky behind it with warm, golden splashes that suggest late-day sun hitting metallic paint.
Working with Motodrome, who have handled many Defender 50th's, I wanted this painting to convey not just the physical presence of the vehicle, but the sense of occasion that surrounds a 50th Anniversary model. These special editions were created to celebrate half a century of Land Rover’s ongoing story, and they stand apart through a combination of exclusivity and engineering refinement.
The 50th Anniversary Defenders were fitted with the 3.9-litre V8 petrol engine, the most powerful drivetrain ever installed in a production Defender at the time, paired with a smooth four-speed automatic gearbox — a unique configuration that made the driving experience unlike any other in the Defender family. Add to this the improved cabin comforts, air-conditioning, distinctive Anniversary badging, special interior trim, and of course the rare Atlantis Blue finish available only on this model.
This painting aims to honour all of that: the heritage of the Defender, the pride of a vehicle built to celebrate 50 years of Land Rover evolution, and the pure joy of encountering an example as meticulously preserved as GBZ 331. The artwork positions the Defender not just as a utility vehicle, but as an icon — strong, purposeful, and effortlessly beautiful.
