David Hockney’s Art to Be Recreated by Drones in Bradford

November 21, 2025 Off By

Iconic works to feature in night sky display above Saltaire

On Friday 14 November at 5.30pm, some of David Hockney’s most well-known artworks will be recreated in the night sky above Saltaire, Bradford, as part of an event organised by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. This free event will use over 600 illuminated drones to present a sequence inspired by Hockney’s paintings from across his career.

Details of the drone light show

The event, titled Painting the Sky, will feature animated recreations of Hockney’s works, including his vibrant Californian pool scenes and bright Yorkshire landscapes. The drone display will take place above the UNESCO World Heritage Site village of Saltaire, with the public invited to view the show from Roberts Park.

The drone light show is produced by SKYMAGIC, a company known for creating drone displays for major events such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the King’s Coronation Concert, and Coachella.

About David Hockney and Saltaire

David Hockney was born in Bradford in 1937 and attended Bradford Grammar School.
He studied at Bradford School of Art from 1953 to 1957.
Hockney has incorporated digital technology into his art throughout his career, including Polaroid photography in the 1980s and iPad drawings more recently.
His exhibition Bigger & Closer (not smaller and further away) used multimedia projections to showcase sixty years of his work.

Saltaire, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, was established as a model village by Victorian industrialist Sir Titus Salt. The village’s Salts Mill, a Grade II* listed former textile mill, houses one of the largest permanent collections of Hockney’s works. Currently on display there is the exhibition 20 Flowers for 2025 and Some Bigger Pictures, featuring 20 iPad flower paintings alongside large-scale works. This exhibition runs until 4 January 2026.

Salts Mill also offers a range of authorised Hockney posters, prints, postcards, and books.