Having a look at some of Alan Sorrell's artwork. Anyone know what aerodrome he painted? I haven't found anything yet to ID it. Artist in focus: Alan Sorrell | Art UK Art UK | Discover Stories Artist in focus: Alan Sorrell Alan Sorrell - Study for An Aerial View of a Wartime Airfield
When I first saw the painting,it occurred to me that it was an typical airfield with 3 runways but one,as the war progressed, appeared to have had its main runway extended as seen left bottom. The odd point with the airfield is that an industrial process is on the site as portrayed by the smoking chimney and other smoking chimneys are in the vicinity of the airfield. No success in identifying the airfield and cannot make out the usual accommodation buildings,ie,domestic sites which normally for a wartime airfield would be remote from the operational areas.
Further thoughts on the airfield...I think that Sorrell's painting depicts a typical wartime airfield and not a painting of an actual airfield....UK Art might have further information on the painting.
Cheers Harry, I've ordered a few books of his work so will see if anything in there. (edit: have asked the RAF Museum via their FB page as it their painting.) As you say might just be a typical wartime airfield. Another of his airfield paintings is in the IWM collection. Construction of a Runway at an Aerodrome. © IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 5674)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Spent an hour or so reading through anything I could find on-line, but zilch. The only one I found with an identified location is the FIDO painting.
As to identity, I think it's a case of artist's licence, possibly "security" considerations. The top of the picture is probably north, the wind is conveniently blowing strongly south-west, the sun is in the east. The layout is not quite right for Stansted Mountfichet but there are a couple of features which suggest that Alan Sorrell had seen the OS. Map and had been to site. The decision to proceed with the aerodrome was taken in 1941 and it opened in late 1943, having been built and then operated by the Americans. The path to the south bordering the writing "Army in occupation" and leading to the end of the runway looks similar, but the main feature is the semi-circle to the right ( east ) which could be the old moat of the old "Bassingbourn Hall" ( note, not the place of that name near Royston ) and its relationship to the then current Bassingbourn Hall in the painting ( see the cross in the circle ( not made by me ! ). Map found on MAF/140/7 at Kew. As to the artist, thanks for pointing him out, I was unaware of him, and the picture of Spitfires.
Having lived nearby for years and worked there for a few, I initially looked at Stansted as a possibility, but angles were not right and building locations didn't seem correct. However, I wouldn't argue against that artistic licence may have given it a little 'eau de Stansted'. Attached from Wikipedia is a 1947 aerial photo of Stansted. Lots of dispersals, but not so many buildings.
The artist was employed by the RAF to help camouflage airfields: he did a good job with this painting.