Douglas Ettridge, Aviation Artist
Biography

DOUGLAS ETTRIDGE, the aviation artist was born in London, although for many years he lived and worked in the US, notably in California. Aviation has always been his great enthusiasm – as a boy he was plane-spotting at the old Croydon airport, or making and flying model aircraft, and for more than 50 years he has been transferring his enthusiasm to canvas. Early on he was elected to the Society of Aviation Artists. In 1959 he was asked to depict the proposed development at LAX – a painting which is still carefully preserved in their archives. Then, during the 60’s he did many paintings for Lockheed, including a 25 foot mural which they commissioned for Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. He has been commissioned to produce paintings for many of the world’s leading airlines, and his work is in private and corporate collections and aviation museums. His subjects are taken from the history of flying: Montgolfier, Bleriot, Santos Dumont, Glenn Curtiss; the first Air Meets at Rheims and Dominguez through to Concorde and the 747s and Gulfstreams of today. The famous pilot Clay Lacy has said “he is an aviation historian as well as a superb artist”. In 1988 he was the first Artist in Residence at Northrop University, and he is official artist to the Eagle Squadron. For some years Douglas has held an annual Show at a venue adjacent to Van Nuys Airport, Los Angeles, originally at the old Skytrails Restaurant, more recently at the Airtel Plaza Hotel. He has also, by invitation, held Shows at the Museum of Flight, Seattle, the Aerospace Museum, San Diego etc. Inc 1994 he mounted a Retrospective Exhibition of his works at the Museum of Flying, Santa Monica at the invitation of the organizers of the cultural event UKLA. Not everyone can own an original Ettridge painting, but, by popular demand, 9 of his paintings are being reproduced as prints, in limited editions of 500, signed by the artist. Douglas Ettridge Home