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The Prize

Bid on a one-off piece of art painted by John Illsley on the soundboard of one of the most iconic acoustic guitars ever created, the legendary Gibson J45.

This unique artwork was inspired by the song "Brothers in Arms," a true masterpiece in its own right.

The artwork was created for NO STRINGS ATTACHED, an artistic project featuring over fifteen famous musicians and performers.

John Illsley

John Illsley is a founding member of Dire Straits. The bass guitarist has had a remarkable journey since 1977, selling over 120 million albums and picking up a few Grammys on the way, as well as an Ivor Novello award in 1988 for “Outstanding contribution to British Music”. John has also released eight solo studio albums and two live albums. His latest studio album, V111, was released in 2022. 


John took a temporary break from music in 1993 and since then has involved himself in his other great passion, painting. Now established as a professional painter, he has gone on to have five solo shows in London, one in New York and one in Sydney.

Additional Details:

  • Original artwork by John Illsley on the wooden soundboard (faceplate) of a Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar
  • This item is framed alongside a Gibson J-45 scratchplate, hand-signed by John Illsley.

Note: the item includes the framed soundboard and scratchplate only, not the entire guitar.

The purchase of unique items through an auction house requires careful evaluation by the buyer. We invite you to personally examine all the information and material at your disposal, including our returns policy, before proceeding with purchase.

Item #P108088

  • In condition as donated.
  • Additional shipping charges may apply.

Service Fees apply to this lot: these are service fee that are commonly applied by auction houses for the sales of this type of service. This service includes the sourcing of lots, quality control, storage, sale and customer support. The minimum Service Fees applied to this lot will be £60.00.

The total cost for this lot does not include shipping costs, which are not specified until auction closing and vary according to the size and weight of the item, as well as the recipient's address. The minimum shipping cost is £42.76. Tickets, vouchers and goods are generally shipped via courier and must be signed for on delivery, unless otherwise stated. In some cases tickets will be left in the auction winner's name for pick up at the ticket office of the event location.

Please note: with the introduction of Brexit, customs duties will be charged by couriers to users residing in the EU from January 2021. These charges are to be paid by the user.

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