Nose ART
[ The Village ] Church Farm Museum - Skegness, UK 🇬🇧
[ The Village ] Church Farm Museum - Skegness, UK 🇬🇧
SO Festival 2011 – Nose Art at Church Farm Museum
Church Farm Museum took part in the Skegness SO Festival 2011 with a special exhibition exploring nose art, curated and arranged around the site by local artist John Byford.
So, what was nose art? During the Second World War, airmen often painted images on the noses of their aircraft. These paintings ranged from pin-up style figures to bold, humorous cartoons and hard-hitting political statements. The artwork helped boost morale and allowed crews to personalise their aircraft, forming a strong bond with their machines and expressing defiance in the face of conflict.
Nose art became an important form of expression during a very difficult period in history, reflecting the thoughts, emotions, and humour of pilots and crew members. One of the most iconic examples was Just Jane, the famous Lancaster Bomber adorned with its distinctive nose artwork.
The nose art featured during the SO Festival was created by competition winners aged 6 to 22, who designed images intended for aircraft noses as part of an aviation-themed art competition run by Lincolnshire County Council. In total, 24 winning designs were showcased as part of the exhibition.
Although the designs were not displayed on actual aircraft, the artwork was presented on aluminium sheets—about as close as you could get to painting on the real thing, and much easier to walk around with.
The exhibition marked the first time Church Farm had taken part in the Skegness SO Festival. > Visit Church Farm
SO Festival
