Aviation artist in oil, born in Poona, India, educated at La Martiniere College, Lucknow. Thompson had no formal art training, taking up oils in 1979. Trained as a draughtsman with Ford Motor Company – did National Service in Royal Air Force, 1955–6 – staying with Ford for 37 years, styling cars in England, Germany and America, taking early retirement in 1986. Thompson was a full member and chairman of the Guild of Aviation Artists; a founder-member of the Guild of Motoring Artists; an artist fellow of the American Society of Aviation Artists; and a master artist of America’s Experimental Aircraft Association. Among many awards were the Wilkinson Sword Poignard, 1983, and Jeffrey Quill Memorial prize, 1997. Also exhibited with ROI and RSMA.