The paintings of Greg Thom ...
... of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Greg Thom grew up in the 1960s within a few miles of Melbourne's old International airport with its constant flow of
arriving and departing propliners, and it wasn't surprising that he would develop an interest in aircraft.
Encouraged by his Uncle who was a founding member of the post-war Government venture TAA - Trans-Australia Airlines,
Greg started an engineering apprenticeship with TAA in 1974. Sadly by that time the jet age had arrived and the
favourite aircraft of his childhood, namely the Viscount and the Electra, were long gone, denying him the opportunity
to discover their secrets.
It was the unique shape of the nose and the cockpit windows, the highly polished aluminium skin and overall sleekness
of the British machine that fascinated Greg, not forgetting it's four screaming Rolls-Royce Dart powerhouses tightly
cowled in their delicate silver skin.
With no formal art training Gregs ability comes from an innate passion for the subject, and a lot of trial and error.
The painting of VH-TVB was done in oils and took six weeks to complete from initial concept, and was an attempt to
re-capture the halcyon days that he barely remembers.
TAA - Trans-Australia Airlines V.720 series Viscount VH-TVB
being overflown by departing sister ship VH-TVC
This painting of TAA - Trans-Australia Airlines V.720 series Viscount VH-TVB was painted in 2014.
History and photos of V.720 series Viscount VH-TVB
TAA - Trans-Australia Airlines V.756D series Viscount VH-TVH
This painting of TAA - Trans-Australia Airlines V.756D series Viscount VH-TVH was painted in 2000, and is now owned by
Bert van Drunick.
History and photos of V.756D series Viscount VH-TVH