Richard Branson's tribute to Scarlet Lady creator

8 hours ago

Ben MarvellWiltshire

News image — Ken White famously painted Virgin's Scarlet Lady which features on its planes

CALYX Pictures ARCHIVE Ken White stands next to a mural of Diana Dors he produced in the mid-1980s for the Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon. — Ken White famously painted Virgin's Scarlet Lady which features on its planes

Billionaire businessman Richard Branson has paid tribute to the man who painted the Scarlet Lady figure that became synonymous with his Virgin Atlantic planes.

Ken White, from Swindon, died in December. He came into the public eye in the1970s, producing colourful murals featuring people and scenes from his home town. Many of his murals are now lost.

Branson said: "Ken was one of the most extraordinary creatives of our time. Obviously, he'll be missed."

Ahead of his funeral on Monday, Branson added: "His beautiful works also breathed life into our record shops, recording studios, hotels, and airport lounges."

PA Media A white plane with red engines and tail, with a Scarlet Lady mural on the front — The Scarlet Lady can be seen on Virgin Atlantic planes

He added that "his work will live on forever".

One of Ken's friends, Linda Kasmaty, said: "When I think of the significant figures in Swindon, that have lived and had a great effect on Swindon, Ken comes pretty high up. He was iconic.

"Ken always had time to support local things. If you had a raffle – he'd give you a linocut," she added.

"He gave up his time so generously. I remember he gave talks for the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and they all sold out. People were so keen to hear Ken talk about his work.

"Ken didn't just work in Swindon but the fact that he comes from Swindon and came back to Swindon is really important."

Tim Carroll A newly repainted mural with a prominent bridge on the left and a number of figures on the right. Ken White can be seen under a flat cap with his arms crossed. — Tim Carroll restored White's sole remaining Swindon mural and added him to the picture

Tim Carroll restored White's last remaining Swindon mural, Golden Lion Bridge, in 2025 and said that his reputation was well deserved.

"Doing that mural, really confirmed for me how good Ken actually was. The skill he used in producing the railing section, it's incredibly detailed and he did it all freehand with his sign-painting skills."

As a tribute, Carroll included White in the repainting.