Mesmerizing Illustrations of Speed by Artist Ricardo Santos

With a day job illustrating many of the world’s finest machines for some of the world’s finest automotive publications, including Top Gear UK, Racer, and Turbo, Portugal’s oldest monthly car magazine, you’re probably already familiar with Ricardo Santos’ work.

An artist by day, what does he work on in his free time? Some of the most beautiful automotive illustrations we’ve seen.

Starting, like many do, by illustrating vehicles in his school notebooks, Santos quickly found himself among other graphic designers who worked at a newspaper. With an emphasis on maintaining factual accuracy, he honed his skills by telling complicated stories in simple, interesting ways.

For cars, it’s much the same. Santos strips racing legends down to their bare elements; he says that his work focuses on their shapes, shadows, glows, and colours. His latest work, in honor of Ayrton Senna’s first Formula 1 win, is typical of his style: a beautifully-drawn machine, with simple lines to remind the viewer of the terrible rain Senna faced en route to victory.

If you’re interested in viewing more of his work or purchasing a print, visit his website or his store.