LONDON.- Renowned British neon artist Chris Bracey has collaborated with Vauxhall Motors to create the ‘Cool Britannia Collection’; a series of new and original artworks. Each piece is a one of a kind and will be on display to the public at Gods Own Junkyard before being auctioned in aid of Kids Company.

The Mokka is Vauxhall Motors compact SUV, which combines attractive design with innovative technologies and exclusive functionalities. Taking inspiration from the car’s design, Chris Bracey chose three words describing the car to include in his artworks - Power, Refined and Adventure. These words were highlighted in neon and incorporated into phrases taken from British popular culture:

Power Is In the Hands of the People
“A classic lyric from one of the most influential British bands of all time – the Clash. Punk was the last time where British music was truly original. This lyric from the track White Riot is fired up with British working class spirit.”

Good Lookin', So Refined
“This is a lyric taken from Dame Shirley Bassey's Big Spender, one of the signature songs by the legendary British export. She performed the song at Glastonbury and Prince Phillip's birthday. The song was released in 1967, during the British summer of love and has endured as a timeless classic, much like Dame Bassey herself.”

As Soon As I Saw You, I Knew an Adventure Was Going To Happen
“This is a line from Winnie the Pooh to Piglet in one of the stories by English author A.A Milne. There's something so enduring about this classic British bear but the line is also really romantic too.”

Chris Bracey has been the ‘Neon Man’ for 40 years. He began his career by transforming the Soho area in the 60’s, redefining the recognisable aesthetic of the area. Since then, he has created pieces for iconic films, from Tim Burton’s Batman to Blade Runner and Eyes Wide Shut. He has also created pieces for artists including David La Chappelle and Martin Creed as well as window displays for Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood.

Hundreds of Bracey’s artworks are housed in his Walthamstow studio ‘God’s Own Junkyard’, a neon wonderland filled with signs, reworked salvaged materials and props. The ‘Cool Britannia Collection’ will be on display at Gods Own Junkyard, E17 9HQ, open every Friday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm.

Chris Bracey said, “It has been great to work with Vauxhall.  The Mokka proved to me that driving is still a passion and inspired me to create the three neon artworks that I feel define my relationship with the car.”

Vauxhall Motors has long produced vehicles with a commitment to forward thinking, technology and design, from the award-winning extended range Vauxhall Ampera to the completely customisable ADAM city car. Chris Bracey’s Mokka collection follows recent collaboration’s with creatives including Sir Peter Blake, Katy England, James Small, Fred Butler, Louise Gray, Gary Card, The Idler Academy and Richard Benson.