Festive Greetings

Taken from a footpath looking towards the driveway at Southlands in Tandridge – the perfect place to work and live from.

As the year comes to a close I always stop for a moment to reflect on the past 12 months and what it means to me.

At the top of my list is gratitude to my customers for allowing me to photograph them, their families, the things they love, and their marketing needs. Without you, I would not have my business that has been up and running since 1997.

It’s with the support and input from the other people I work with – the fine art and photographic printers, post-production and IT experts, bookbinders, designers, accountants, and the Association of Photographers who collectively help me keep all the behind-the-scenes part of my business running smoothly.

A very big festive THANK YOU!

Wishing you all a fun time and happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2024.

Looking forward to doing more of what I love for years to come.. thank you very much.

Stella X

Motoring Literary & Art Festival - The Wing Silverstone 2nd - 3rd December 2023

Come and join me on the 2nd & 3rd December at the inaugural Motoring Literary & Art Festival at The Wing, Silverstone Circuit where I will be exhibiting and selling my Artist's Proofs and limited edition framed photographs of some of the finest classic & supercars in the world. Ideal gifts for automotive lovers just in time for Christmas!

There will be a host of other artists, from painters to sculptors displaying their creations too. Personalities include Lord Hesketh, Professor Peter Stevens, Lee McKenzie, John Watson, Karun Chandhok, Andy Palmer, Ian Callum CBE, Jackie Oliver, Sir John Egan and some 40 more. Authors include Richard Heseltine, James Page, Philip Porter, Martin Port, Matthew Field and Crispian Besley.

Under one £27m roof at The Wing at Silverstone, participants will be entertained, informed, amused and maybe shocked by a wonderful array of speakers with plenty of opportunities for book signings and chats with motoring heroes.  

You can find out more about the festival HERE and more about my photograph collection HERE

Artist’s Proofs available to purchase Ford Mustang Bullitt 1968

Did you know I have exhibited previously at the Hanging Room at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, and other locations too? This link tells you more.

I have two free tickets available each day if you want to come along. Email me HERE with your preferred day. Be great to see you!

Thanks very much

Stella

A Collaboration with Dylan Miles – Purveyors of Rare Automobiles and Motorcycles

Purveyors of Rare Automobiles and Motorcycles in Royal Tunbridge Wells.

In a prominent position in Royal Tunbridge Wells you’ll find a magnificent car showroom – but not any car showroom, this one is a purveyor of rare automobiles and motorcycles called Dylan Miles.

It’s my absolute pleasure to tell you so much more….

I met up with Dylan and his team on 11th September 2023 when he arrived back from an action packed weekend at the Goodwood Revival on a hot and sunny day.

Dylan is no stranger to cars and motorcycles they have been a major part of his life since he was born. His father, Simon dedicated his life to restoring rare Brough Superiors (a high-performance motorcycle designed for speed and luxury). However, It was his father’s Aston Martin DB5 Convertible and a Ferrari Daytona that really captured his interest and his fascination to pursue a career in his lifelong passion.

I first met Dylan Miles back in 2017 when he worked at JD Classics in Mayfair, our paths crossed a few times after at various automotive events, including at Salon Privé where I was photographing the event and he had just launched Dylan Miles Ltd and was exhibiting his collection of cars for sale.

A luxurious showroom beautifully designed with attention to detail to house some of the most sought after automobiles and motorcycles.

An inspiring collection of automotive artworks adorn the walls. Including two of my limited edition photographs seen at the top of this photograph of a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe from a private collection – these Artist Proofs are available for purchase.

My collaboration with Dylan Miles combines our shared passion for the design and detail of fine automobiles and motorcycles to give first-class personal customer service and an experience to enjoy.

As well as photographing people, I love photographing their personal collections of classic & supercars and motorcycles to create provenance and visual memory for wall art and tailor-made coffee table books – unique to each recipient. Each automobile is photographed in locations meaningful to the owner to reflect their lifestyle. This link tells you more.

Take a further look inside the Dylan Miles showroom via the images below. The Camaro on the forecourt is a fully restored 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 in its original colour of Rallye Green.

Below photograph of Dylan Miles centre, with Showroom Manager Matt Landers, left, and Josh Holmes, Showroom Assistant right.

More about Dylan and the history of the showroom…

Dylan says:

I’ve worked with some great companies, including RM Sotheby’s, Fiskens, Autosport Designs in New York, and JD Classics. Lots of people joked about how many different jobs I’ve had in the motor trade, but then there’s method to my madness because I’ve forged very good relationships with a lot of significant and influential people, from whom I’ve learned a lot. And today, everyone who I’ve worked with in the past I’m still doing regular business with, so it’s paying dividends.

The history of the showroom:

Stevenson as it was back in 1909.

Then in the 1960s franchised for Standard Triumph.

A former garden furniture showroom at 12-16 London Road, next to Tunbridge Wells Common.

Photo by Dylan Miles.

Transformed over nine months an extensive restoration programe was undertaken and opened in January 2023.

A building with strong automotive links. Directly next door at number 11 London Road stood a respected Victorian carriage company that constructed lavish horse-drawn carriages called AA Cundell. In 1907 the site was taken over by J. Rawsons and Sons who held the concession for Austin, Daimler, Essex and other British marques. In 1909 the showrooms 12-16 London Road were erected directly next door at the request of Mr. G Stevenson, who, at the time was director of Rawsons. He established G. Stevenson Engineers – The Kent and Sussex Garage Ltd and offered both sales and maintenance, becoming a concession for Humber, Wolseley and many other marques of the day. The building remained occupied by Stevensons well into the 1960s who by then were a franchised dealer for Standard Triumph.

By the late 1970s, the building was taken over by Pace Petroleum, acting as a petrol station, and later became home to a local Suzuki dealership. For the past few years the building was taken over by Westminster Outdoor Living until Dylan Miles acquired it in April 2022. The rest, as they say, is history! Well done to Dylan for restoring the building – a tremendous asset to London Road and Royal Tunbridge Wells.

The building has to be one of the last remaining working showrooms that exists worldwide today. Dylan’s empathy and a nod to a bygone era are evident for all to see. Viewings at the showroom are by appointment.

Watch this space for further updates on collaborations with Dylan Miles.

If you or someone you know has a classic & supercar collection worthy of a photo shoot I’d love to hear from you, simply call me on 0777 181 0105 or email me.

You can contact the friendly team at Dylan Miles via their website here.

Thanks for reading!

Stella

Collaboration with Casmin Group - Luxury Bespoke Automotive Manufacturing

Barnett, Nick and Ian from Casmin Group

During this week I have been working with Ian Smith, Nick Campolucci and Barnett Fletcher creating images for the launch of their new business and website Casmin Group. Enabling luxury and bespoke manufacturing of automobiles and motorbikes to be matched with discerning clients, giving a personal service from start to finish.

This collaboration stems from our mutual passion for beautiful cars and motorcycles. It’s exciting times as I get to be in the front seat to witness the manufacture of bespoke one-off vehicles, visually capturing the process from concept to manufacture to delivery – to create provenance within tailor-made coffee table books.

Ian said “this is an excellent addition to our portfolio of luxury lifestyle services that we offer our customers. Stella’s service helps us deliver a tailored and personal service from start to finish. Choosing and managing the purchase of a customer’s next vehicle is only the beginning of what we believe should be a long and rewarding relationship. Over the years we have been very impressed with the quality of Stella’s work and believe this is a perfect fit with the services and philosophy available at Casmin Group.”

1966 Jaguar Series 1 E Type Fixed Head Coupe

It was a cold January morning on the Thames but that didn’t deter us from a photoshoot of the three founders together with a stunning 1966 Jaguar Series 1 E Type Fixed Head Coupe that has been in Ian’s family since new – a perfect addition to the shoot! Thanks to the duck’s geese and swans for arriving right on cue!

You can find out more about Casmin Group here as they begin their launch.

Original Automotive Father's Day Gifts

It’s time to treat the special man or men in your life – be it your dad, husband, boyfriend, granddad or father figure.

From an exclusive range of photographs of some the world’s finest classic and supercars printed on fine art paper and sized at 16” x 12” image area 12” x 8” – priced at £45 each or £135 ready to hang in a tailor-made frame.

If you would prefer to give him the option to choose his own why not buy a voucher so he can redeem it at his leisure. Simply email us via this link to place your order.

We also have a collection of Limited Editions and Artist Proofs for sale via this link.

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2004 Ferrari Enzo

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2004 Ferrari Enzo

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1991 Ferrari F40

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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Hood Ornament

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1964 Ford Mustang Convertible

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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Bumper Reflection of Miami house

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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Side View

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1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Window Winder

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2012 Ferrari 458 Italia Rear Light

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2006 Ford GT

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2006 Ford GT Inside

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1968 Ford Mustang ‘Bullitt’ with Sheep

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1968 Ford Mustang Exhaust Fumes

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2003 Harley Davidson V-Rod Rear View

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1948 Tucker Torpedo - Rear View