Every picture tells a story for artist Ted

Art lovers will be able to watch as a painting is created in front of them at next month’s Isle of Ely Arts Festival.

Ted Coney will be artists in residence in Ely’s historic courthouse during the festival on the weekend of June 15 and 16.

Ted has been making drawings in the courthouse over the last year in preparation for his latest painting Who Stole The Toothpaste?

All Ted’s paintings begin with a family story and this one is about how a fortune was lost over 100 years ago.

His ancestor owned a prosperous pharmaceutical company (hence the title of the painting) but after he died all the money was squandered by two reckless nephews.

Ted uses the image of Toad to symbolise greed, because it is reputed that E H Shephard used Ely courtroom for the illustration of Toad’s downfall in The Wind In The Willows.

During the residency, Ted will be working on the final painting and answering questions about the work between 11am and 4pm.

He also hopes to bring his 1931 Morris Minor along as it stood in for Toad’s motor car in the painting.

Ted has been making paintings about family life for over 50 years, while mainly living in Great Shelford and being head of art at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge for more than 30 years.

He moved to Ely 12 years ago with his wife Hazel to set up a pop-up gallery in their home.

For more details about Ted’s work go to www.tedconeysfamilyportraits.co.uk. The Isle of Ely Arts Festival runs from June 15 to July 13 with several events in Ely and surrounding villages.

For more information about the festival go to www.babylonarts.org.uk.