Claus Friedl Wuelfing Short Biography
Claus Friedl Wuelfing was born in Cologne, Germany in December 1937 and has had a keen interest in aviation since he first visited his uncle, who was serving in the Luftwaffe, in 1942. Having studied graphic design in Cologne and Gothenburg / Sweden, Friedl joined the Ford Motor Company in Germany as an automobile designer.
In 1968, Ford Design Europe was formed and he was promoted to Design Manager, responsible for the exterior design of large and medium cars. During this time he made the acquaintance of Charles Thompson (a member of the Guild of Aviation Artists). Friedl was greatly influenced by the aviation paintings produced by Charles and by 1986 had taken up painting aircraft himself as a serious hobby. After early retirement in 1992, he was able to devote more time to painting. Friedl's large paintings hang in permanent display at the Luftwaffen - Museum in Berlin, several German Airforce messes, as well as in private and corporate collections throughout Germany.
