Stunning “Thunderbird 6” art set to go under the hammer

By John Freeman on February 26, 2026 • ( 0 )

Graham Bleathman’s stunning art illustrating a scene from Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbird Six features in the upcoming “Peter Hansen Collection of Comics – Premiere Sale” taking place 11th – 12th March 2026 from auction house Anderson & Garland.

An original painting by Graham Bleathman depicting a scene from the movie Thunderbird 6 (1968) in which Skyship One collides with a radio mast above the missile base at Dover, gouache on paper, signed, 44 x 60cms unframed.

The painting depicts a scene from the film Thunderbird 6, released in 1968, in which Skyship One collides with a radio mast above the missile base at Dover. Created in gouache on paper, signed, it measures 44 x 60cms unframed.

Graham’s art is one of 500 lots being sold (fuller news item soon), just part of Peter’s incredible collection of original art, comics, many in bound volumes, and toys, some Gerry Anderson-related items, amassed over decades.

Peter bought Graham’s wrap-around cover painting for a proposed “photo novelisation” of the film around 20 years ago.

“It was originally commissioned by [the late] David Nightingale in the late 1980s, for an A4 publication that didn’t go ahead in its original proposed format,” says Graham, “although some copies with a b/w photo cover were produced privately later.”

Graham’s painting is in good company, with art by Martin Asbury, Frank Bellamy, Graham Coton, Gerry Haylock, Don Lawrence, Angus McKee, Mike Noble, Keith Robson, Dudley D. Watkins and others offered in the auction.

Loved by fans for his amazing cutaway illustrations of Anderson craft and buildings, Graham Bleathman has been a regular contributor to Fanderson’s FAB magazine and special guest at many of their past conventions.

• Follow Graham on Facebook

• The Peter Hansen Collection of Comics – Premiere Sale, will take place 11th – 12th March 2026 | Lot: 1 to 310 – 11th Mar, 2026 from 10.00am; Lot: 311 to 542 – 12th Mar, 2026, from 10.00am | View the Catalogue Here | You must be registered to bid | You can also bid via The-Saleroom

Comprising over 500 exceptional lots, this prestigious auction will be followed by Part II, coming later in 2026

• Following on from this, Excalibur Auctions, at Kings Langley, will host the second sale on Saturday 9th May 2026

About the Author
Latest Posts

John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.