Thunderbirds and friends are coming to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum 4 July - 6 September 2026
New artwork Worcester: 2066 has been produced to celebrate the exhibition 54321FAB! which arrives at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum on 4 July until 6 September 2026 Free entry to exhibition A brand new artwork has been commissioned to celebrate Thunderbirds and friends' visit to Worcester in the forthcoming exhibition 54321FAB! opening at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum on 4 July.
Illustrator Graham Bleathman has painted the 'Thunderbirds over Worcester' artwork titled Worcester: 2066. The painting shows the iconic Thunderbirds vehicles flying over notable Worcester landmarks including Worcester Cathedral and the River Severn. Prints and postcards of the artwork will be on sale in the Museum Shop. Bleathman, one of the country's leading illustrators, is well known for his work on Gerry Anderson's TV series including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray. He is best known for producing cross-section, 'cutaway' illustrations of spacecraft, vehicles and locations from these shows, as well as Dan Dare and Wallace & Gromit. Bleathman will also be giving a talk at the Art Gallery & Museum on Saturday 18 July 11am - 12pm about his experiences working on these amazing projects and his fantastic new work Worcester: 2066, specially commissioned for the exhibition 54321FAB! The talk will be followed by a meet and greet with Graham in the exhibition, where he will be autographing, sketching and meeting fans. Tickets for the talk can be booked at www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk The exhibition 54321 FAB! is an incredible display of original puppets, models, art and memorabilia from the much-loved 1960s TV shows of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Visitors will revisit their childhood favourites including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Stingray and more, and will have an unprecedented opportunity to see screen-used original puppets from the shows. Original puppets including Lady Penelope and Joe 90 will be on display, having been painstakingly restored to their original condition as filmed in the 1960s. Other characters which no longer exist in their original form, such as the heroic Thunderbirds pilots, have been rebuilt from original moulds and materials to create new working replica puppets. The exhibition also features models of iconic vehicles such as Fireball XL5, Stingray and the Thunderbirds craft. Original comic and production design art will also be in the exhibition, whilst a huge collection of 1960s toys and memorabilia will be on show to take visitors on a FAB trip down memory lane. Museums Worcestershire Senior Curator Deborah Fox comments: "We are so pleased to show this brand new artwork which celebrates 54321FAB! coming to Worcester! The exhibition will appeal to fans of all ages and we're sure it will be a big hit with visitors throughout the summer holidays" The exhibition has been made possible with the support of Fanderson, The official Gerry and Sylvia Anderson Appreciation Society. Check out www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk and our social media channels for up-to-date news and information on the exhibition and a fun FAB-themed programme of events and activities.
