Sara and Lesley Lawrence and Jon Murden with Nigel Mansell Painting

Nigel Mansell portrait by renowned artist Anthony Lawrence donated to the National Motor Museum

02 June 2025

A portrait of the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell has been gifted to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu by the family of the artist, Anthony Lawrence who died in 2022.

The oil portrait was originally painted in 1992 for the front cover of a book called ‘Champions’ by Christopher Hilton and John Blunsden. The donation comes as the family sort through the vast archive at Anthony’s New Forest studio and prepare to show works spanning multiple genres in an important retrospective in October.

The portrait will initially be displayed in the Museum as part of a special display marking 75 years since the inaugural Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship in 1950. The Icons of Formula 1 display is on until 2nd November 2025 and brings together nine iconic F1 racing cars, including cars from World Championship winning teams, and immersive adrenaline-fuelled Formula 1 simulator experience.

The Museum’s Senior Curator for Objects and Exhibitions, Gail Stewart-Bye says, “We are delighted to have Anthony Lawrence’s work in our exhibition – it seems a very fitting location to have the dramatic motorsport portrait on display. Nigel Mansell is as much an icon of Formula 1 as the cars themselves.”

Anthony Lawrence’s daughter, Sara Lawrence says, “There is no more perfect home for this painting than the National Motor Museum. We as a family as absolutely thrilled that motorsport fans can enjoy the portrait as part of the Museum’s displays.”

The Icons of Formula 1 display headline sponsor is logistics company Indigo-Blue who work with the National Motor Museum to transport historic cars to events across Britain.

A retrospective exhibition of Anthony Lawrence’s work is to be opened at Palais des Vaches, Nick and Caroline de Rothschild’s gallery at Lower Exbury Farm between Beaulieu River and The Solent in early October. It will run throughout the month.

[Photographs by Paul Neiman]