Leyland Beaver artic
A grimy Leyland Beaver of Dixon Bool unloads steel rod at a factory in Birmingham sometime in the 1960s when Britain still was a serious trading nation and made things rather than just consuming them.
Lorry driving in those days was a man’s job, few lorries had heaters, let alone radios or sleeper cabs and many loads were merely manhandled on and off and the vehicles were expected to last at the very least ten years before having a second life with a smaller haulier until run into the ground. But it was a life of comparative freedom for the driver who was very much on his own once out on the road, no sat-nav, no tachograph,no mobile phone and much less traffic generally and a real camaraderie among his fellow sufferers.
The original of this painting was in oils on a 20”x30” board.
A painting like this of your favourite vehicle, British or American, in oils on canvas or board would cost about £1000.
E-mail mike@transportartist .co.uk to commission your own unique work of art by one of Britain’s leading transport artists.
Leyland Beaver artic belongs to the following groups:
Commercial Vehicles, Hand drawn or painted vehicles, Realist Traditional Art, This is England and Truckies Available for sale asGreeting Cards and Matted Prints

Ken Powers
So far, this is my favorite piece in your gallery. I find this vehicle intriguing as well as the history that accompanies it. Very nicely rendered.
Mike Jeffries
Thank you Ken, a lot of this is from memory, the grime and the factory interior.
ISMAIL ALAOUI ...
the texturing of this vehilcle is so amazing
Mike Jeffries replied
Ismail, the effects you achive with just a pencil puts this in the shade, and you’re still only in your twenties.