Eric H Day - Aviation Artist
 

I've seen a few of Mr Day's piccies hanging up in various messes around the RAF and being a bit of a fan of his style, was wondering if anyone has ever had anything commissioned by him?
If so, what does he charge?
I've searched the internet for weeks now but haven't found any mention of him anywhere other than a) A vulcan print on ebay a few weeks back, and b) A mention at ehangar.com. (Trouble was that it was only a mention, not a jot of detail anywhere!)
Although he's no Ronald Wong, his pieces have a charm to them and I assume he'd be reasonable enough as he's not so well known.
Can anyone help?

I am not disparaging the gentleman when I say that I saw him in Oman at least 20 years ago and he was in the early stage of some debilitating disease like Parkinson's and had a noticeable tremor in his hands. This obviously gave him some diffiulty with sketching and painting. I would have thought that by now he will certainly have given up art and may well, regretfully, have passed away. I shall be happy to be corrected if anybody knows differently.

Not fully sure but...
 

I think that he is now the late Eric Day... I am open to ridicule (normal day to day for me) if I am wrong but I think that he passed away a couple of years ago. One of my ex-sqns has a watercolour by him, but sadly we were too late to ask permission from him to make copies.I agree that his paintings captured that certain character of the aircraft. I would have liked a copy myself.

From what I remember, he died something like 10 years ago. I was in a similar position, thinking 'how much does he charge?' and then found out I was rather too late.

There is always the Guild of Aviation Artists who, in my experience, are very helpful in getting you in touch with one of their members.

You get what you pay for though...

Thanks rudekid, I tried the guild of aviation artists a few weeks back. No dice I'm afraid. Although he was a member, it seems that the site admin bod had had no correspondance with Eric in many years.

It seems like sadly, the first couple of replies might prove to be bang on the money. There goes that commission I think, looks like I was too late.

One of life's regrets then maybe.....

Thanks for the replies gents.

The Late Eric Day
 

I got one of his paintings as a present in 94 from my parents and heard from them shortly after that he had passed on. I think 3 independent rumours of death constitues proof.

here's one .... a must for the Herc guys surely .... :confused:

5 days to go .....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RAF-C-130-HERC...em300051599675

http://i7.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/79/49/8dd5_3.JPG

That's gorgeous. It's a shame I'm not a Herc man! (Although I am tempted!) Wonder if there is still a GR1 painting out there somewhere....

Thanks hobie. And thanks to all who answered, I'm sure you'll understand me saying that I wasn't pleased to hear many of the replies, but you have my heartfelt gratitude all the same.

Yes, I was informed that Eric died several years ago. He occasionally visited RAF Finningley (where many of his water colours hung in the Officers' Mess and in other locations on the Stn) and, when he was there on one occasion I asked him for a commission for, yes, you've guessed it, some water colours of a couple of GWR steam locomotives. I thought he might be dismissive (most of my colleagues are!) but he welcomed a change from aircraft and produced some lovely images, quite cheaply iirc. What did I do? I sold them at a car boot (to an RAF Officer I might add!) because I didn't have room any more in the house for them (its called marriage I think!) and I regret selling them.:(

Bograt (M** R**v*s) is not a bad hand with the old sable and oil. He's with the AEF at Church Fenton or Leeming, not sure which one..

You're not Charles McHugh then are you? Shameless hijacking of someone else's thread sir!
This is about Eric H Day!

I wonder if any of the Herc crews have seen that post by Hobie earlier? I see it's being bid on by a sapper. Be a shame to see it go to the Army!!

I think Mel R is still on 11 AEF at Leeming. I have seen some of his stuff and although it is a different style (oil) from the late Mr Day, i thought it was VERY good. A guy I know got him to knock up a painting from a photo he had so he is very flexible. Ex Chinook pilot and an absolutely top bloke!

did you spot the location of the Herc painting on ebay ...... :confused:

I hope it's not AWOL from a 'Mess' in Northolt ..... :p

Squadron and Mess silver and paintings
 

At slight tangent to hobies question, where does all the disbanded squadrons' and closed stations' silver and paintings get sent for storage? Used to be Quedgeley I think. Sometime ago an inventory of Governement and MOD paintings showed hundreds to be 'unaccounted for'.

There used to be a lot of Eric's fine work on the walls of North Luffenham Offs Mess. Wonder where they all went? Somewhere suitable I hope, as I believe Quedegley shut some years ago!
It would be an absolute scandal if these (and other works of art) were languishing in a damp, cold shed. ... or worse, on some underhand sh!t's lounge wall!

Last time I had to send a piece away it went to Innsworth. It was a rather nice solid silver Gloster Meteor posed in the vertical climb. I wanted to keep it, but I remeber a rather gruff Officer at Inns insisting it went to him!
As for paintings, I couldn't tell you, probably the same place!

Back in around 1978 I went with a couple of chums to Eric's studio near Market Rasen. An unbelievable place, untidy as hell with some weird wallpaper, but clearly the lair of a mildly eccentric genius. Chum wanted a couple of Vulcan water colours commissioned and after a chat, Eric agreed....

And fabulous they were too!

But at 36 quid, it hasn't met its reserve price. I would imagine that to be at least triple figures.

You'd think the Sqn would be interested in bidding for it.

I wouldn't mind bidding for it myself but I can't seem to get E-bay to load on this confounded DII shambles.........