MICHAEL RONDOT | From Jaguar Pilot to Aviation Artist... Signing Event - Sunday 22nd March
Exhibition, Q&A and Signing Event with Gulf War–era fast jet pilots!
This is a FREE-to-attend event, but you must please book your tickets here for entry, so we can comfortably manage numbers!
We’re delighted to welcome Michael Rondot, one of the most respected and widely collected aviation artists of his generation, for a special exhibition, Q&A and signing event at our Steventon gallery!
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Before establishing a distinguished career as an artist, Michael served for 25 years with the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance & ground-attack pilot and flying Jaguar fighter-bombers on combat operations during the First Gulf War. His unique perspective combines first-hand operational experience with exceptional artistic skill and has resulted in some of the most authentic and compelling depictions of modern air combat ever produced.
The exhibition will showcase a wide selection of Michael’s work, with a particular focus on Gulf War–era aviation, alongside earlier subjects reaching back to the Second World War. His paintings are renowned for their technical accuracy, authority and atmosphere, and his Gulf War series, drawn directly from personal experience and eye-witnessed events, is widely regarded as unmatched in its realism and credibility.
Click here to browse his artist page
🎙️ Q&A Session
Michael will be joined by a panel of modern fast jet pilots, many of whom served during the Gulf Wars, for an engaging discussion covering his RAF career, what it was like flying the Jaguar, and his transition to full-time professional artist. There will also be an opportunity for audience questions.
✍️ Signing Event
Following the Q&A, Michael and our pilot guests will be available to meet collectors and enthusiasts, signing prints and personal items and sharing first-hand experiences from their flying careers.
Set within our Oxfordshire gallery, surrounded by historic aviation and military artwork spanning WWI to the modern era, this promises to be a relaxed and highly informative event for aviation enthusiasts and collectors alike!
** This is a free-to-attend event with complimentary refreshments including teas and coffees available throughout the day. **
Event Schedule
10:00 – Gallery opens
11:00 – Q&A with Michael Rondot and guest pilots
12:00 – Formal signing session
Our guests are looking forward to meeting enthusiasts and signing for collectors – they include:
Flight Lieutenant BILL PERRINS - flew Vulcans based at Ascension Island during the Falklands Campaign of 1982. He took part in four of the seven planned ‘Operation Black Buck’ missions, with the objective to attack Port Stanley Airport and its associated defences - which were the longest-ranged bombing raids in history at that time. Bill then became an RAF Qualified Flying Instructor and went on to fly Tornado F3s in the Air Defence role. In the world of civil aviation he flew Boeing 747s, 757s, 767s, 787s. Flew as a Training Captain with Virgin Atlantic Airways. He has displayed various aircraft including Spitfires, P51 Mustangs and Vulcan XH558. Having flown over 50 types, Bill is now gracefully retired, with over 20,000 flying hours under his belt and enjoys pottering about in a de Havilland Chipmunk. Watch out for his forthcoming book: "From Vulcan to Spitfire and back".
Captain KENNETH CARVOSSO - served 18 years in the RAF and Luftwaffe flying fast jets including the Lightning, Jaguar, Tornado, and F‑104 Starfighter. Following his military career, he flew for various airlines as a Captain on aircraft such as the L‑1011 Tristar, Boeing 747‑400, and Airbus A320 family. He then led flight simulation training at a premier Malaysian academy until his retirement in 2014.
A former Squadron Leader and recipient of the RAF’s Sword of Honour, Ken holds an ATPL with FAA qualification and a BA in Mathematics. Now retired, with over 14,200 logged hours, he remains active in flight instruction, gliding, and enjoying his lifelong passion for aviation.
Squadron Leader DEREK SHARP – AFC BSC Dip Comp JP RAF Retd - born after the end of WW2 and following a grammar school education joined the RAF as a pilot. Following postings as a Strike/Attack pilot, he became a flying instructor, then spent 10 years flying Jaguar fighter bombers. Having took over command of 151(F) Squadron, he suffered a catastrophic duck strike which left him totally blind. Despite being told he would never fly again, he defied all odds and ended his career as a senior instructor and VIP pilot on VC10 aircraft. Following retirement, Sharp totally restored an ex RAF Bulldog aircraft and still regularly flies.
Squadron Leader RODERICK (ROD) WEBB – joined the RAF in 1978, aged 21. Flying training commenced at RAFC Cranwell on the JP Mk5 in Jul 1979, with first solo flying at RAF Barkston Heath Aug 1979 in XW325. Hawks at RAF Valley (AFTS) and Brawdy (TWCU), then a 3-day course commenced on the Gazelle at Shawbury before joining 233OCU at Wittering in ‘81 for the Harrier Course (GR3 and T4).
First operational tour was on 3(F) Sqn at RAF Guetersloh, West Germany for 3 years and included detachments to Belize, the Falkland Islands (post war) and Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada. Followed immediately by the Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) course and a tour on 1(F) Sqn at RAF Wittering. Short-toured on 1(F) after 2 years to join the OCU QWI staff and a further detachment to Belize, he was short-toured again, after 18 months, on promotion to Sqn Ldr to join IV(AC)Sqn as a flight commander back at RAF Guetersloh. He considered it a privilege to be the first flight commander to see the GR7 (night-capable) Harrier Mk.II into service in 1990. He left the RAF aged 38 after a staff (ground) tour in RAF Germany (Guetersloh and Laarbruch) and with 2300 hours on the Harrier to join the airline industry, initially with Air UK (KLM UK) at Norwich and Stansted before spending 21 years with easyJet at Luton on the B737 and Airbus 319/320 as a TRE/TRI/Line Training Captain on both fleets until retirement in 2022 aged 64. He has a PPL for Hot Air Balloons (lapsed) and continues to be a very active light aircraft pilot based at Old Warden.
Additional guests TBC - check back regularly to stay up-to-date!
📍Skyfall, Church Lane, Steventon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6SN
For further enquiries please don't hesitate to CONTACT US and we'll be delighted to help.
