Antonio Lopes Motorsport Artist

[rogerwills]

Has anyone come across Antonio Lopes who attends race meetings selling his services as a motorsport artist?

He approached me at Brands Masters festival in June and showed me a painting he had done of a single seater. It wasn't bad, not Michelangelo but fine for a momento for the office wall etc.

The pitch was £10 up front and then a further £20 when he finished the painting.

He seemed genuine enough. Well at least to a gullible mug like me. And a few other people I know who were at the same meeting.

I got a letter a week or so later saying paintings were ready and could I send a cheque for the balance. He also enclosed photos of another of my cars to ask me to select one for him to paint. I sent off a cheque and it was duly banked.

Then nothing......

A few others also ordered and having the same issues.

Any leads?

Roger

[Mike Bell]

Roger, I can tell the same story- also from Brands!

[Tim Falce]

If it's the same guy who I know of, and it sounds like him, it's a lottery as to whether you will get anything and if you do I think the results look pretty much like a ten year old painted them.

[Colin McKay]

For 30 squids I'm not surprised!

[motorsportinprint]

Thats a real shame!

Don't let it put you off other motorsport artists though!

[Al Weyman]

I would want more than that for a decent digitally printed stretch mounted canvas! Mind you the machine I use to produce them on is the 2nd one I have bought, the first one despite paying over £3.3k like Rogers painting never appeared so we have all been had at one time or another. I guess the answer is like I now do collect the thing or get it sent CoD.

[delta]

SNAP.He did phone me some months later to say he had been ill.That was two years ago.I also lost £20.00.

[JNWRF01]

i fell for exactly the same "pitch" almost to the word.

I think my 8 year old would be offended if I said he had painted the final result - it was more the work of a 5 yr old.

Trully terrible.

[John Turner]

I don't know what size these paintings are, but they must be tiddly. No-one is going to do you a decent painting for £30. Stick a nought on it and then double it and you might begin to be looking at something worthwhile from a decent artist. It's like everything else in life; you get what you pay for. Caveat emptor.

Now, I'm going to lock this thread, as I think that the point has been made, and I don't want anything said that might become litigious. If you want to supply each other with further details etc, please do so by PM.