Just days before its reopening, the Nemesis rollercoaster is being resurrected with a major refresh still firmly based on its original theme.
Back in 1993, Les Edwards was commissioned by the J Walter Thompson marketers to advertise the forthcoming new rollercoaster at Alton Towers.
Opening the following year to rave reviews, the ride’s storyline of a giant alien creature being pinned down by steelwork has captured imaginations for decades.
Now 74 and semi-retired, we caught up with Les and asked him to share his memories of creating his iconic representation of the Nemesis alien creature.
“Usually my jobs at that time came through my agent, Arena,” he explained.
“I spent most of my time painting book covers but occasionally something like this would come along to make a pleasant change.
“I’d done a lot of Horror stuff so I was the go-to guy for anything sinister or creepy.”
Les didn’t have any input into the design of the creature, as it had already been decided.
“The client just asked me to paint it and I decided to put in the sky and the rocks to give it some sort of context,” Les said.
“I rather liked the idea of the monster coming out of a pit,” he added.
Only theme park venture
Les says the Nemesis artwork is the only time that he has stepped into the world of theme parks, and that rollercoasters are “not his thing”.
He hasn’t been involved with the Nemesis Reborn launch, which has seen newly-reimagined artwork used.
“I haven’t ridden Nemesis,” Les says. “I’m 74 now so I imagine my rollercoaster days are behind me.
“I’m still painting and I do still have a couple of clients who I work with now and again if the work is interesting.
“I divide my time between private commissions and personal paintings. I only take on a few commissions a year now, which tops up the pension nicely.”
The original Nemesis artwork has been sold, but Les sells signed and numbered 13 x 19 inch prints on his website.