Introducing: Stuart King

I am the proprietor of Mabileau & Co. Cheltenham. I began, as many do, as an avid collector of car brochures in the 1970’s. Family holidays were often interrupted by visits to car showrooms in ‘new’ towns with an often-embarrassed father being coerced into conversations with salesmen and a feigned interest into obscure vehicles (King Senior never did buy an Aston, a TVR or an Interceptor!). Whilst most kids at school were trading football cards, I was plotting and scheming how I was going to swop a ‘1st edition’ TR7 brochure for a spiral bound E-Type one. The hobby became an obsession with motoring ephemera; until a glorious day in 1981 when a 1960 Morris Minor became the new toy. Owning and running classic cars then became the new ‘norm’ (although in those days -it was considered a cheap form of transport!). Various vehicles were owned, used and abused, today I drive a 1952 Hotchkiss Anjou as an almost daily driver – some habits are harder to quit than others!

The enthusiasm for art begins with Geo Ham (Georges Hamel 1900 – 1972) and his Monaco posters, in particular the “2 Avril 1934” edition – a reproduction of which had enjoyed pride of place on a certain bedroom wall since 1976 – This poster has a particularly clear signature allowing a starting point on a quest for more information and of course a new direction for collecting! Nowadays the ‘personal collection’ has a backbone of original Geo Ham artwork, along with some of the more obscure items of work – whilst most of this is ‘not for sale’ it can be viewed at the Mabileau Gallery and shared with like-minded enthusiasts.

After a long and varied business career I consider myself fortunate to now be able to spend my time surrounded by a lifetimes collection in the gallery and to meet and advise fellow enthusiasts on the purchase and enjoyment of art dedicated to motoring and motorsport.