Proof Enough?

In my painting ‘Who Stole The Toothpaste?’ (2019) I wanted to show how two of my ancestors had squandered all the family money in the early 1900s.

I  read in a booklet   picked up in our local museum, that the illustrator, E.H Shepard had been inspired by Ely Courthouse for his drawings where Toad faces the magistrates. This gave me the idea of using Toad as a symbol of greed and debauchery in my painting.

However, I had never any other proof that Shepard ever came to Ely or made drawings here. Until now.

Recently, Ely Museum discovered some of Shepard’s drawings of views of the Cathedral and surrounding city. Although prints, they have a sketchy style which shows that he worked first hand rather than from photos.

You can see my painting and Shepard’s drawings on my latest Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky posts.