David Shuttleworth - Rally Hopeful

Project: A documented live project charting the artists' relationship with an aspiring rally driver.

Date: 01/10/99 - 31/12/00
Collaborators: Anna Best & Simon Poulter
Commissioner: Grizedale Arts (UK)

David Shuttleworth - Rally Hopeful is one of three projects (with the Festival of Lying & Limo Day) that emerged from a Grizedale Arts residency in 1999/2000 with artists Simon Poulter and Anna Best.

During our residency we were drawn to the 'local celebrities' of the iconic English Lake District. Throughout 2000 we worked with the aim of increasing the competitive performance of a young local rally driver, David Shuttleworth, who by day worked as a forester in Grizedale Forest. Alongside David and his family, we tried to raise his local and national profile via marketing and publicity. Our successful initiatives included an appearance in Top Gear magazine and a billboard featuring David appearing in a Paul Smith fashion shoot.

Documentation from this and other Grizedale projects (video & artefacts) was shown at the Collective Gallery (Edinburgh, UK) in 'People from Off' in May / June 2001. The work is now in the collection of Grizedale Arts, Hawkshead, Cumbria, and can be viewed by arrangement.

David is still rallying and - yes - his results have improved!