Artist: John Worsley
(biography) Medium: Watercolour on Board
Size: 14" x 20" (365mm x 505mm)
Date: 1963
This is the unique original Watercolour painting by John Worsley. The incredibly popular Wee Willie Winkie stories chart the travels of a young protagonist who had a special ticket that would take him and his baby elephant Hannibal anywhere in the world by land, sea or air.
John Worsley paints with extraordinary panache, vibrancy, attention to detail and humour. This lovely page shows the large liner 'WAYWEGO' cutting through the sea, and features a bold inset depicting Willie clambering down a steel ladder toward the engine room. This inset is remarkably painted with superb perspective.
A very early full page painting for the 4th ever issue of Treasure magazine published 9th February 1963.
The artist, who also worked as a portrait artist for the Metropolitan Police, uses his extraordinary skill to create life like characters both adults and children can identify and empathise with.
We must remember that Worsley spent time in a P.O.W. camp after being captured in then Yugoslavia, and yet achieves a fantastic liberation from the past by painting in such a fluid joyful manner. Worsley's work can be found in The Imperial War Museum, The Maritime Museum, The collection of HM The Queen, The Savage club and many other private collections including Royal Families, banks and Colleges.
zChildren's zAdventure zTransport zSea/Maritime zWeeWillieWinkie