Check out this striking F1 art

By Mick Walsh

| 3 May 2026

Classic & Sports Car – Motoring art: James Stevens

With his vivid Grand Prix studies, motoring and motorsport artist James Stevens has become a true master of portraits, even when the star subject is limited only to a pair of eyes peering out from a full-face helmet.

Visitors to his stand at the Goodwood Revival would point out the Ferrari 312T team composition and exclaim: “Lauda!”

James’ talent is in the details, from the team manager’s notes resting on the bodywork to the stitching of sponsors’ patches on a race suit. Nothing escapes his gaze.

Whatever the chosen medium, be it acrylic or oils, the colours have a brilliant vibrancy, the subject stylishly enhanced by the bold background hues that have become his signature style.

Jackie Stewart in the 1965 BRM P261

“You have to get the details right,” he confirms. “Everyone today is an expert, so research is key.”

James enjoyed art from an early age. “My parents tell me I was constantly drawing, and when I started school I was way ahead in art,” he says.

“At first I was happy using just pencils; those early monochrome drawings are a total contrast to the colours I use now.”

Initially he focused on favourite films, such as Back to the Future, Star Wars and Ghostbusters, but a trip with his uncle to Brands Hatch race track in Kent for a meeting of the Superbike World Championship ignited an interest in motorsport.

Graham Hill checks practice times in the 1969 Lotus 49 while Colin Chapman (on left) advises

Heroes included Carl Fogarty, and years later it was a proud moment when ‘Foggy’ signed one of his paintings.

Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton’s career was followed avidly, and for James’ first live painting experience, at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed, he chose the seven-time champion as his subject.

“It was a big event for me, particularly because Lewis had won at Silverstone the week before,” he recalls. “I felt a little uncomfortable with an audience, but it’s good to push your skills.”

As a youngster, James had ambitions to be an airline pilot, but he eventually became a full-time photographer.

Niki Lauda, in the Ferrari 312T, confers with team manager Daniele Audetto

During a quiet work period he sketched a Spitfire, which quickly sold on Facebook Marketplace, and from there further sales developed rapidly.

Since A-level art at school he has been totally self-taught, honing his style as well as building up a business.

The hard work has paid off. He is now a regular exhibitor at Goodwood meetings, and his dramatic paintings have featured at Aston Martin events.

Plus, at the Singapore Grand Prix, three-time drivers’ world champion Sir Jackie Stewart signed an embellished print of his for auction in support of the retired F1 star’s dementia foundation.

James Hunt’s McLaren, with Alastair Caldwell (left) and Teddy Mayer (seated) guiding the crew

James has also been inspired by SailGP, with some spectacular results. That is an annual international sailing competition, where national teams take each other on in identical, high-performance catamarans.

He enjoys working with large canvases, and his biggest so far measures 5ft (1.5m) wide. Such a large scale takes lengthy preparation.

“I like the idea that the drawings stay with the painting: they reveal the process,” he says.

Depending on the size and detail, a complex composition can require weeks of work.

The bold pitstop scene of Jenson Button’s 2012 McLaren MP4-27 with mirrored reflections on the bodywork and the crew’s chrome helmets took 300 hours.

A pensive Damon Hill during his first season driving the Williams FW15C, prior to his debut Grand Prix victory at the Hungaroring

So what about his personal love of all things automotive?

James tells us his original dream car was a DeLorean DMC-12, perhaps not a surprise given the cinematic inspiration already mentioned.

But now he says he’d be very happy with an Aston Martin DBS V12, as featured in Casino Royale.

“I enjoy driving around in my Volkswagen T2 camper,” he says. “Its bus-style wheel always makes me smile, and it’s very handy for transporting large paintings.”

For more, see jamesstevensartist.com or follow @jamesstevensartist on Instagram

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