![The work of motoring artist Jeremy Dickinson Classic & Sports Car – Motoring art: Jeremy Dickinson](/sites/default/files/styles/article/public/2023-01/Classic%20%26%20Sports%20Car%20%E2%80%93%20Motoring%20art%20%E2%80%93%20Jeremy%20Dickinson%20%E2%80%93%2003.png?itok=YYjUiwmy)
The frustration of not being able to complete a planned American road trip with his sons due to pandemic-induced travel limitations inspired a fascinating development in the work of artist Jeremy Dickinson.
Best known for his colourful compositions featuring stacks of toy vehicles (Motoring art, March 2018), Dickinson prefers to hunt down subjects to paint.
![Jeremy Dickinson’s illustration of a scrapyard in Texas Classic & Sports Car – Motoring art: Jeremy Dickinson](/sites/default/files/2023-01/Classic%20%26%20Sports%20Car%20%E2%80%93%20Motoring%20art%20%E2%80%93%20Jeremy%20Dickinson%20%E2%80%93%2006.png)
Jeremy Dickinson was inspired by the deep red soil of Abilene, Texas
“The toy-fair circuit had shut down, so my source of fresh old toys stopped,” he recalls.
“My paintings are partly recreations of imaginary toy scrapyards, and during our previous road trips I’d regularly diverted to old wrecking yards.
“That fascination started when I was a lad, when I’d spotted a huge bus breaker’s from the train near Barnsley, Yorkshire.
“Back home with my OS maps, I worked out where it was then pestered my mum to take me there.
“She gave me an hour, and aged just 14 I walked free around the amazing site, which would be unthinkable today.”
![Classic cars parked on grey tarmac in Fontana, California Classic & Sports Car – Motoring art: Jeremy Dickinson](/sites/default/files/2023-01/Classic%20%26%20Sports%20Car%20%E2%80%93%20Motoring%20art%20%E2%80%93%20Jeremy%20Dickinson%20%E2%80%93%2005.png)
Neutral colours are more prominent in Jeremy’s city-influenced pieces