Aston Martin and ILN celebrate the DBX707 in style

Words by
Andy Morris
Photography by
James Mason

25th May 2022

Celebrating 50 editions of Aston Martin magazine and the release of the most powerful SUV the British automotive pioneers have ever made.

Peter Saville and Aston Martin's Marek Reichman
Graphic Designer Peter Saville and Aston Martin's Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman

To celebrate Aston Martin’s most powerful luxury SUV, the extraordinary DBX707 and 50 issues of Aston Martin magazine, Illustrated London News (owner of SPHERE) and Aston Martin hosted an exclusive event at The Smallbone Luxury Pavilion / The ARX in Knightsbridge. Speeches from ILN Chief Executive Lisa Barnard and Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman praised innovation, persistence and technical excellence - as well as the ongoing battle to coordinate with the James Bond cinematic release schedule (dubbed, informally, as ‘No Time To Publish’). Guests, including legendary graphic designer Peter Saville, relished the opportunity to check out the car during its UK debut. The assembled collection of aesthetes, customers, petrolheads, luxury brand executives and media enjoyed Louis Roederer champagne, bespoke cocktails featuring the Aston Martin wings, Brendan Murphy's 19ft spaceman sculpture, the world's largest 8K TV screen, delicious canapés and a live DJ set, as well as admiring florist Orlando Hamilton’s striking installation matching the DBX cobalt hue. Goodie bags contained products from Clive Christian, D R Harris, Floris, Firetree, Luscombe, Savoursmiths, Hattiers Rum and Smallbone.

Many thanks to our venue hosts Smallbone - guess were awed by the space and ARX art Gallery. Subscribe to Aston Martin Magazine at astonmartinsubscriptions.com

The DBX707 at The Arx
The DBX707 was the star of the show at Smallbone's awesome Luxury Pavilion in Knightsbridge
Lisa Barnard, ILN Chief Executive
Lisa Barnard, ILN's Chief Executive, and the DBX707
James Ogilvy with the Aston Martin DMX707
James Ogilvy, landscape designer and self-confessed petrolhead
Automotive journalists compare notes
Comparing notes: automotive journalists Guy Bird, Aston Martin Magazine editor Jonathan Bell, Rory Smith and Simon Mills
Peter Saville, Ron Shemesh Marek Reichmann and Jefferson Slack
Designer Peter Saville, Smallbone owner Ron Shemur, Aston Martin's Chief Creative Office Marek Reichman and Aston Martin F1 CMO Jefferson Slack
Jenny McMurray EON and Melanie King Aston Martin
Jenny McMurray of EON and Melanie King of Aston Martin
Ben Douglas and Basia Briggs
TV presenter Ben Douglas and Basia Briggs
Cocktails with Aston Martin logo
Cocktails adorned with Aston Martin wings flew down a treat
Louis Roederer
Champagne Louis Roederer at the ready
Florist Orlando Hamilton and the Aston Martin Yearbook
Florist Orlando Hamilton with the Aston Martin Yeabook, in front of his floral creation matching the DBS707
Jane Thomson and media entrepreneur Simon Bax
Jane Thomson, wife of ILN Chairman, and media entrepreneur Simon Bax
Darren Turner, Grace Barnie and Charles Porter
Racing Driver Darren Turner, Aston Martin's Grace Barnie and Aston Martin owner Charles Porter
Chelsfield's Sarah Waller and Jake Edwards - The Knightsbridge Estate
Chelsfield's Sarah Waller and Jake Edwards - neighbours from The Knightsbridge Estate
Marek Reichman, Raine Storey artist, Tim Butler and Bob Moore
Aston Martin's Marek Reichman, ARX artist Raine Storey, South Kensington Estates MD Tim Butler and Smallbone's COO Bob Moore
Ron Shemesh Smallbone Owner
Shemesh, Owner and Chief Value Creation Director, Smallbone and Lux Group
Steve Waddingham, Stephanie Jackson, Grace Barnie, Charles Porter and Kev Watters
Aston Martin company historian Steve Waddingham, Chief of Staff Stephanie Jackson, Corporate Communications Manager Grace Barnie, customer Charles Porter and Director of Communications Kevin Watters
Lisa Barnard ILN and Richard Billett Louis Roederer
Lisa Barnard of ILN and Richard Billett of Louis Roederer and Maison Marques et Domaines
DJ Lyndsey Evans She plays Drums
Sounds by DJ Lyndsey Evans "She Plays Drums"
Guests at ILN Aston Martin including D R Harris
Lucinda Milton from Buccellati and Julian Moore from D R Harris.
The Arx Samsung screens
The wow factor of the 8K Samsung Screen at the Smallbone Pavilion
Rob Bellinger, FizznCars
Rob Bellinger, FizznCars and Aston Martin owner
Jane Washbourn, Sophie Stoneham and Vicky Stringer
Jane Washbourn, Sophie Stoneham and Vicky Stringer
Melanie King, Marek Reichman and Lisa Barnard
Magazine Dream Team: Aston Martin's Melanie King and Marek Reichman, and ILN's Lisa Barnard