‘That Spring Feeling’ – a classic cartoon by Norman Thelwell

A major exhibition of the work of one of Britain’s most popular cartoonists, Norman Thelwell is currently running at Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire, a historical priory and country estate operated by the National Trust.

Thelwell is particularly famous for his cartoons of mischievous ponies

Best known for his hilarious cartoons of plump little girls on equally spherical ponies, these familiar pictures are joined by other satires of twentieth-century life, alongside beautiful paintings of local landscapes.

Thelwell: Ponies and Places features over 70 original artworks taken from the Thelwell family archive, includes many that have never been on show before.

First created in the 1950s and published extensively since, Thelwell’s pony cartoons are still easily recognisable today. The artist drew the endearing characters Penelope and her mischievous pony Kipper in hundreds of humorous scenarios, from ungainly jumps and gallops to the destruction of country fairs.

Two fishermen run at each other across a bridge in a cartoon by Norman Thelwell

Thelwell also produced numerous other satirical cartoons, with astute and amusing observations on country life, from gardening and fishing to the upkeep of heritage properties.

While these images have given Thelwell a lasting reputation as a talented cartoonist, he is less well known for his beautiful landscape art. Thelwell lived close to Mottisfont and captured the surrounding countryside in a series of stunning watercolours.

A view of Romsey Abbey in one of Thelwell’s beautiful local landscapes

The Mottisfont exhibition reveals many of these pictures, including images of Mottisfont itself, Romsey Abbey, and the landscape and villages of the Test Valley, brought to life by an extraordinary talent for naturalistic painting.

Displayed alongside Thelwell’s well-loved cartoons, the exhibition also demonstrates how the artist’s amusing observations on life in the country are rooted in a deep-seated love of the Hampshire landscape.

Both beautiful and funny, Thelwell’s work is the perfect antidote for those late winter blues. His wit is as fresh now as the day his watercolour and ink dried.

• Thelwell: Ponies and Places exhibition at Mottisfont runs until 10th April, 11.00am – 5/00pm, Mottisfont, Mottisfont Ln, Romsey SO51 0LP. Tel: 01794 340757. Admission to the gallery is free (normal property prices apply). For more about Mottisfont visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont

Thanks to Jeremy Briggs for the heads up on this exhibition

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions

Tags: downthetubes News, Mottisfont, Mottisfont Abbey, National Trust, Norman Thelwell