Nigel Mansell portrait by Tiptoe artists Anthony Lawrence will be displayed at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu

The family of renowned Tiptoe artist Anthony Lawrence has donated his iconic Nigel Mansell portrait to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

The portrait of the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell will form part of an Icons of Formula 1 display at the visitor attraction, and will then become part of its permanent collection.

Anthony, who lived and worked in Tiptoe for many years prior to his death in 2022, was a pre-eminent artist whose work spanned genres of still life, portraiture, landscape, religious iconography and grand historical themes.

The oil portrait was originally painted in 1992 for the front cover of a book called ‘Champions’ by Christopher Hilton and John Blunsden. The donation comes as the family sort through the vast archive of work at Anthony’s Tiptoe art studio ahead of an important retrospective exhibition in October.

The portrait will initially be displayed in the museum as part of a special display marking 75 years since the inaugural Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship in 1950. The Icons of Formula 1 display is on until 2nd November and brings together nine iconic F1 racing cars, including cars from World Championship winning teams, and an immersive adrenaline-fuelled Formula 1 simulator experience.

Beaulieu senior curator Gail Stewart-Bye said: “We are delighted to have Anthony Lawrence’s work in our exhibition – it seems a very fitting location to have the dramatic motorsport portrait on display. Nigel Mansell is as much an icon of Formula 1 as the cars themselves.”

Anthony’s daughter Sara Lawrence added: “There is no more perfect home for this painting than the National Motor Museum. We as a family as absolutely thrilled that motorsport fans can enjoy the portrait as part of the museum’s displays.”

A retrospective exhibition of Anthony’s work is to be opened at Palais des Vaches, Nick and Caroline de Rothschild’s art gallery at Lower Exbury Farm, in early October. It will run throughout the month.

Further information on the Icons of Formula 1 display is available from www.beaulieu.co.uk