Metin Salih to Paint Live at Jersey Concours d’Elegance 2026
Jersey Concours d’Elegance is delighted to announce that London-based international contemporary artist Metin Salih will be a special guest at the 2026 event.
On Saturday, 13 June 2026, at People’s Park, St Helier, Metin will hand-paint a live original 1/1 oil-on-canvas artwork inspired by one of the exceptional motor cars on display. Visitors will have the rare opportunity not only to see some of the finest vintage, classic and performance cars, together with historic motorcycles, but also to watch a recognised contemporary artist at work in the setting of the Concours.
Ferrari artwork in progress
An original automotive artwork by Metin Salih, capturing the drama, proportion and movement of one of motoring’s most recognisable competition forms.
Metin is already working on a further original piece based on one of the confirmed exhibits, which will be unveiled at the event. Both original 1/1 artworks will be available for sale on the day via SUPERLUXE, the fine art platform specialising in original and limited-edition works by contemporary artists.
The addition of live painting brings a new dimension to Jersey Concours d’Elegance. At its heart, the Concours has always been about more than mechanical presentation. It is a celebration of design, provenance, craftsmanship and the stories behind exceptional machines. Automotive form has long inspired artists, designers and collectors, and Metin’s presence at People’s Park will allow visitors to see that connection expressed directly on canvas.
Metin Salih in the studio
London-based contemporary artist Metin Salih in his studio, surrounded by bold portrait works that reflect his distinctive use of colour, character and expressive detail.
A well-known figure in contemporary portraiture and illustration, Metin Salih brings a distinctive eye to his work. Based in London, he comes from an advertising and illustration background, having painted and illustrated for many leading agencies and brands. That commercial discipline is evident in the precision, confidence and graphic strength of his work, yet his paintings retain the presence and emotional depth of fine art.
His influences include masters such as John Singer Sargent, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Alberto Vargas, Robert McGinnis and Robert G. Harris. From those references, Metin has developed a visual language that is bold, expressive and highly individual. His portraits are known for their unusual colour palette, strong draughtsmanship and a willingness to push the traditional genre into more contemporary territory.
Although much of his reputation has been built around portraiture, Metin’s approach lends itself naturally to the motor car. Like the human face, a great car has proportion, character and identity. Its surface, stance and detail reveal something of its maker, its era and its owner. In the hands of an artist, a vehicle becomes more than a machine; it becomes a subject with presence.
Metin primarily works in oil paint, but his practice has also embraced unconventional materials, including cement and rusty nails. This willingness to combine tradition with experiment gives his work an energy that feels particularly suited to a Concours setting, where preservation and creativity meet. The cars on display are carefully conserved and presented, yet they remain living objects of design, engineering and memory.
His live painting will offer visitors a rare insight into the artistic process. A finished painting often feels inevitable, but watching an artist build an image by hand reveals the judgment behind every mark: proportion, light, tension, movement and restraint. For those who appreciate automotive design, the process will feel familiar. Great cars and great paintings both depend on balance.
Jersey Concours d’Elegance 2026 takes place on Saturday, 13 June 2026 at People’s Park, St Helier, from 12 noon to 4 pm. Public admission is free.
We warmly invite Islanders, visitors, collectors, families and enthusiasts to come down to People’s Park and enjoy a special afternoon of motoring heritage and contemporary art. Alongside a carefully curated display of rare cars and historic motorcycles, visitors will be able to see Metin Salih painting live and witness the unveiling of an original automotive artwork created especially for the occasion.
Seventy-five years after Jersey’s first Concours in 1951, the 2026 event continues the Island’s tradition of celebrating elegance, craftsmanship and community — this year with brush, canvas and engine side by side.
