The story so far...

I've been drawing cars ever since I could hold a pencil, and discovered hot rods soon afterwards. I can't easily say what inspired me about the rod & custom scene but it's become a minor obsession ever since. I started producing artwork for others in 1998 and from then on I've built up a large and varied portfolio of commissioned work and personal projects.
I now paint and draw all types of hot rod, custom car, classic, race car, Volkswagen, truck, sports- car, lowrider and anything else interesting.

The majority of my pictures have a slightly caricatured style which I use to emphasise the individual character of each vehicle. I regard it as showing the way the car should look without the constraints of practicality, legal requirements etc .I do, however, paint “straight” pictures when required.
Most of my artwork is produced in a combination of chalk pastel, acrylic and watercolour, with occasional detours into fine detailed pen & ink drawings. Though the majority of my work is in full colour, I sometimes like to work in black & white to re-create the atmosphere of old photographs, a technique which particularly suits traditional style rods and sleds.

My personal taste in cars is quite open minded, from chopped & flamed deuces, to concourse quality Ferraris and most stops in-between. Basically if it's interesting- I'm interested, though I do have a particular passion for traditional lead sleds and 60's style rods. As for influences I'd say Dave Bell, Steve Kirk and Ed Roth are major inspirations from the 'rod scene while Edward Hopper, Hogarth and David Hockney are my favourite sources from the wider art world. It may sound corny to say so but my biggest influence is all the hot rodders, customizers and restorers without whom there would be no real cars to draw and paint.

The artwork displayed on this site is the best of my work to date, but I'm constantly working on new pictures so I hope to keep the gallery an commissions pages updated. If you require any further information or want to buy a piece of my art see the FAQ page on this site or contact me.

Jez Ratchford.

 

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