‘Antman’ provides the colour on the lids of Australia’s top steerers

His work has been worn by the best drivers on podiums across Australia but despite painting for rich racers, this artist insists he’s just a working-class fan.

IN A downstairs home studio hidden among the sprawling mansions of Hope Island is high-energy artist adding some flare to Australia’s top motorsport stars.

Anthony Wolski, 47, is the passionate painter behind the kaleidoscope of colour on countless V8 Supercar drivers’ helmets.

What started as a hobby on the back porch of his mother’s Newcastle home in 2002 has morphed into Antman Helmet Design, an industry-leading business with about 30 long-term clients.

Wolski’s helmet designs have been featured on racetrack podiums across the nation, with household names Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, Greg Murphy, Glenn Seton and Shane van Gisbergen wearing his work.

“I’d have to have the most championships out of anyone,” Wolski laughs of his clientele.

“I think six of the seven (championships), Jamie was wearing my design.”

Along with wife Vanessa, Wolski’s Gold Coast micro-business has grown to be a recognisable name in motorsport.

Antman Helmet Design owner Anthony Wolski pictured holding V8 Supercar driver Shane Van Gisbergen’s helmet while he works on Jamie Whincup’s. Picture: Nigel Hallett

It started in 2002 when Wolski was working as a special effects artist in the rapidly-evolving gaming industry.

The diehard motorsport fan painted a helmet in the same colours as Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, then a five-time Formula One champion.

About a year later Wolski sold the replica helmet, painted on the back porch of his mother’s Newcastle home, to a woman in the US for $800.

“I was shocked so I went out bought two more helmets and did the same thing,” he recalls.

Shortly afterwards he realised the potential and gave up his gaming work to work full time on helmet design.

In the years since Wolski has gone from a mock-up painter on his mum’s patio to an industry-leading artist.

Jamie Whincup with a helmet by Antman designs.

Now Bathurst 1000-winning drivers are wearing his designs as they stand on their car after conquering the mountain.

“It’s an amazing feeling and it never gets old,” Wolski says.

Creating a personalised lid for a driver comes by mixing their own ideas with Wolski’s creative talent.

Each paint-job starts at $1750 and rises with the complexity of the project.

That is in addition to the $3000 drivers pay for the bare helmet.

The 47-year-old artist admits dealing with professional racers who demand the best is difficult.

“It’s a lot of pressure because you’ve got to come up with new ideas,” he says. “These are high-energy, efficient people. My job is to extract their ideas and dreams from their head.”

His favourite customer is Mustang young-gun Chaz Mostert.

“He loves his helmets and is just a really cool guy,” Wolski says.

Chaz Mostert is one of Antman’s favourite customers. Picture: (Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

He describes his pinch-yourself moment as being when Ford’s Glenn Seton, the greatest driver to never win the Bathurst 1000, visited his home studio on the Gold Coast. These days it is not uncommon for Whincup, regarded as the best Supercars steerer of all time, to drop in from his neighbouring Hope Island home to check on the progress of his helmet design at Wolski’s place.

Wolski, whose fast-paced nature is reminiscent of the Loony Tunes’ Tassie Devil, says his business is built on treating people right.

“I’m a big believer in karma,” he says.

“If you have the right energy about how you go about business and how you treat people, it will just come back.”

Despite rubbing shoulders with the nation’s best drivers, painting helmets for Saudi Arabian royalty and living at Hope Island, Wolski insists he remains an outsider in the world of the rich and famous.

“I’m just a motorsport fan that never raced,” he says.

“I’m still in the working class.

“My work is more famous than I am and people associate fame with money.

“But it’s not a massive money-maker because it’s a small community.”

Antman Helmet Design owner Anthony Wolski has been painting helmets for the nation's top Supercar drivers since 2005. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

The artist spends race weekends like most other motorsport fans, sitting on the edge of his seat screaming at the television.

Wolski, who also paints guitars and bikes, now wants to pass on his skills to the next generation.

“I just want to create an art school online where if you want to learn the art you can come and learn it from me,” he says.

He insists, though, Australia’s drivers will be able to call on his artistic airbrushing abilities for a while longer.

“I’m going to keep doing what we always do,” he says.