Acclaimed pop artist Sir Peter Blake dreams up a bespoke Bentley for charity.
Acclaimed pop artist Sir Peter Blake dreams up a bespoke Bentley for charity.
When Sir Peter Blake was asked if he would decorate the Bentley Continental GT, he almost said no: “I told them that I didn’t want to mess up a beautiful car.” But Bentley knew that its Continental GT would be in safe hands with the godfather of British pop art. As it turns out, the man who co-created the exuberant cover art for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band had no intention of creating a busy montage for this piece. He said, “I wanted to keep its purity and work in a certain radius... Taste, I suppose.” That doesn’t mean the final piece was dull— far from it. Commissioned to help raise funds for the Care2Save Charitable Trust, the result is a bold, traffic-stopping work of art. From the grill to the boot lid, Blake created bespoke elements, including unique paint colours and seats in tonal colours. The most striking part is the paint work, which Blake chose for specific reasons. The haunches, doors and boot lid were all painted in St Luke’s Blue to represent St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice; the red heart on the bonnet signifies the compassionate work of local hospices; and British Racing Green on the side is a nod to the car’s heritage. To make sure the cabin didn’t fight with the exterior, Blake fitted each seat with a different hide colour, reflecting the more tonal shades of the exterior. The only shocking pop art element is the pink leather gear lever on the central console. Beyond the visual, the artist also went as far to create a personalised playlist, including “Route 66,” “Mustang Sally” and, of course, a handful of tracks from Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. And, if anyone is in any doubt as to who gave this car a makeover, Blake had his name added to the tread plate, which states: “Unique design by Sir Peter Blake 1/1.”
REFINED STYLE
There might only be one Peter Blakedesigned Bentley, but all luxury lovers can experience the brand’s artisanship at a hotel suite in Dubai. Inspired by the Mulsanne model, the Bentley Suite at the St. Regis Dubai comes with one-of-a-kind furnishings. The living room features a chandelier inspired by the car’s headlights, ottomans featuring Bentley’s signature quilting and a rug inspired by the car’s grill. A masterclass in design. Visit stregisdubai.com
