Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
- Author, Debbie Tubby and Laura Devlin
- Role, BBC News
- Reporting from Ipswich
A self-taught artist said it was “mind-blowing” that his work depicting the Red Arrows for a set of commemorative coins had been approved by the King.
Matthew Emeny, of Ipswich, was selected to paint the aerobatic aircraft on a collectors’ set of five 50p coins to mark the team’s 60th anniversary.
A special gold set was carried in the flight suit of each Red Arrows pilot during their flypast for the Trooping of the Colour on Saturday.
“It’s just amazing that he [the King] got to the see the work I did as an artist; it gives you a nice feeling,” said Mr Emeny.
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Mr Emeny started drawing as a child and now depicts aircraft flown through history, with his work appearing on jigsaws and book covers.
He said the coin commission – featuring landmarks in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Jersey and Belfast – differed from his usual work.
“The way coins are minted and because they are so small, I had to hold back a bit on the detail and not get carried away, working on roughly eight inches square,” he explained.
“Once it is shrunk down to the size of a 50p it looks more detailed.”
He worked for about five hours on each, and “cannot believe” his work is now on the reverse of the King’s head.
“When I was painting barges down at the mill, if anyone if said to me you’d be asked to do a design for a coin I’d be like, what?
“Especially as a self-taught artist, I got a B in art.
“How far I’ve come, it’s amazing really, I’m chuffed.”
The coins will not be in circulation but are available as collectors’ items.
