Renowned Artist Draws New York City And Empire State Building From Memory After Taking 45 Minute Helicopter Ride Over The City.

A renowned artist created a one-of-a-kind sketch of the New York City skyline – and he did it completely from memory over a period of five days. 

Stephen Wiltshire, who is from the UK and is internationally acclaimed for his work, drew the entire Manhattan Skyline in pristine detail after a 45-minute helicopter ride around the island.He began working on the drawing on October 11, and worked almost non-stop for five days until Sunday.

The entire experience culminated with a signing ceremony at the Empire State Building on Monday night.

‘Stephen Wiltshire has a truly special gift, an enormous talent,’ Anthony E Malkin, Chairman and CEO of the Empire State Realty Trust said in a press release.

‘To have the chance to have Stephen in residence at the Empire State Building is truly an honor, and for him to allow our guests to watch him work is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’ Malkin said.

 The finished product, which is the roughly the size of a large gallery wall, was done in just pen and pencil and shows the buildings of Manhattan in pristine detail.

And though it was done on a flat surface, the level of detail and expansive panoramic view by which he captures the city makes the viewer feel as if they too are looking at the photos from a helicopter.

Wiltshire has been an award-winning artists since an early age – receiving his first commission from the British Prime Minister at just eight years old.

He was diagnosed with autism when he was three and didn’t speak til age five.

In 2006 he was named as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the art world. Later that same year, he founded a gallery at the Royal Opera Arcade in London.