TV antiques star launches classic car greetings cards

ANTIQUES expert David Harper has combined his twin passions of classic cars and art to produce a range of distinctive greetings cards.

Mr Harper, who is well known for his appearances on BBC TV shows such as Bargain Hunt, Flog It and the Antiques Road Trip, said his artwork had “moved on dramatically” during the past 12 months or so.

He explained that his range of greetings cards came about as the result of a commission he received from the James Herriot Museum, in Thirsk, to paint a picture of the Austin 7 car which featured in the TV series All Creatures Great and Small.

“They have the car at the museum. I painted it in my own special style and it now appears on everything from cups to coasters, fridge magnets and tea towels.”

This then led Mr Harper to the Haines International Motor Museum, in Somerset.

“They have one of the biggest collections of classic cars in the world,” he said.

“I painted pictures of a couple for them and they want me to paint more.”

Buoyed by this interest, Mr Harper has produced a range of general greetings cards, each featuring a classic car.

In addition to the James Herriot Austin 7, models featured include a Jaguar E-Type, 1969 Porche 911T, 1958 Mercedes 220S Ponton Coupe and 1974 Jensen Interceptor.

Mr Harper, who splits his time between London and Barnard Castle, said he was pleased with the way his work as an artist was progressing.

“It has taken a lot of effort in getting myself out there, but it’s beginning to really take off.

“I have just had an exhibition at an apartment in Canary Wharf, which was quite an experience, and I will be hosting my first solo exhibition in London from November 28 to December 15.

“It will be in Marylebone and will feature about 30 pieces, mostly new work completed this year,” he said.

Mr Harper has fitted in his artwork alongside a busy filming schedule for the BBC.

He will be back on the small screen soon in a new series of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip alongside the likes of Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie and actors Hayley Mills and Stephen Tompkinson. He has also filmed new programmes for Bargain Hunt and Flog It which will be broadcast in the near future.

Mr Harper’s greetings cards are now on sale in the Teesdale Mercury shop and at davidharperartist.co.uk