Congratulations to Anthony Cowland, who won this year’s prestigious ‘Best First World War Aviation Picture in Show’ at the 2024 Guild of Aviation Artists Annual Exhibition. Anthony’s painting, ‘Flight of the Heron,’ shows an RNAS NS Class Airship over Steeple Ashton Church in Wiltshire. Anthony notes that the Heron is often a metaphor for the spirits of the departed.

The two runners-up were Martin Perman for ‘Dazed and Confused’ and Ken Farmer for ‘Winter Patrol.’

GWAS Trustee Marcus Williams commented, “Flight of the Heron is very different to what is normally seen in aviation art. The small oil painting featured an unusual subject, showing an airship, to which the eye was drawn and beautifully contrasted different means of flight. I’m not surprised that it sold quickly. Congratulations to Anthony, Martin and Ken for their thoughtful and well-executed artwork.”

You can view all the paintings in the show online https://gava.org.uk/galleries/2024-gallery/