SKYMAGIC had the incredible honour of presenting Painting the Sky, a spectacular celebration of Bradford-born artist David Hockney, bringing his work out of the gallery and into the skies in Saltaire, a place so central to his life and practice.

Created especially for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, 600 drones reinterpreted Hockney’s iconic work over Salts Mill, blending art, technology, and Yorkshire heritage. Over a 9-minute-long performance, the show featured several pieces among his rich, vibrant, and inquisitive portfolio of work, such as A Bigger Splash (1967), Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1971), Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972), and ending with his Self Portrait (2021).

In addition to the live show visited by thousands, SKYMAGIC took on the challenge of recreating Hockney’s Garrowby Hill (1998) in long-exposure photography. A world first interpretation of Hockney’s artwork, SKYMAGIC meticulously calculated the flight paths to capture the iconic road bends and vibrant fields from the original piece. The resulting photograph is made possible in collaboration with the photographer William Turner.

Press coverage of Painting the Sky included major outlets such as BBC and Sky News, along with features in leading publications like Forbes and Artnet.

Images and videos courtesy of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.