Thermal imaging camera helps to create sporting art

A Flir T425 thermal imaging camera, supplied by Thermascan, has taken time out from its usual predictive maintenance and condition monitoring duties to provide artistic images of British elite athletes.

The thermographer in this instance is Penny Crofts, an artist whose work was recently shown at the Expo Fine Art Gallery at Heathrow Terminal 5. Over the last year Penny has met several athletes at the top of their game to create a body of artwork that forms a legacy for Britain's sporting endeavours and achievements during 2012.

Penny Crofts trained at the Central St Martin's art school, but it was her previous training as a nurse that fired her interest in the artistic representation of the human body. She has found that thermography gives her a unique way of expressing this interest and her subjects' incredible athletic commitment.

The paintings are acrylic on canvas, based on thermal images of rowers, Mark Hunter MBE and Steve Williams OBE, the tri-athlete Nick Beer and the GB sailing team.