Looking for a paint rag this afternoon, I picked out this relic from the Wakefield Centenary celebrations in 1988. Alan Brook was in charge of promotions at the Wakefield Express. I’d previously produced a Wakefield calendar so I stuck to the same landscape format throughout, drawing each on location around the city.
I think that Alan’s original intention was to produce a calendar too but for some reason that never happened, so he suggested the tea towel instead.
He later used the same artwork, with a few tweaks from me, for some commemorative china for the Millenium. As I’d sold the originals in an exhibition, it never occurred to me to ask for a royalty. If I’d known that the Express would have such success with the range.
Barbara was driving with her mum near Hornsea and came across the pottery where they were made. The man there said that I must be making a lot from them, as they were such a success he had to keep producing more.
If only I’d known that they’d turn out to be bestsellers, I’d have asked for a royalty!