One question I get asked all the time is ‘Where did George and Daphne come from?’ Read on to find out more…

Back in 2012 I created a called ‘The Umbrellas’. I’m not sure where it came from to be honest. I just loved the idea of tubby little legs popping out from under huge umbrellas. 

These pieces were initially painted on canvas as a collection of only twelve, all with the word ‘Daze’ in their title; Blustery Daze, Rainy Daze etc. Some of you may have been following along for long enough to remember or even own one of them?

Once the Umbrella Collection was finished, I got chatting in Whitby Galleries, talking about my work as an artist. The Umbrella’s had got the galleries attention and so we agreed to consider a new series which could be sold in Whitby. 

I got back to the spare bedroom (no studio back then!) and started to think about how this first idea could be developed, introducing a couple (unnamed at this time!) under umbrellas in Whitby style locations. 

After lots of sketches and a few paintings I decided that I needed to drop the umbrellas to give me more freedom, I wanted to focus on the characters I’d created and named ‘George and Daphne’. Whey George and Daphne you ask?! Because they look like a George and Daphne! No other reason! 

Once George and Daphne had their names firmly established in my head, I started to play around with sketching them out. Note; in these early days, Daphne had tiny stick legs and George wore a jacket, it wasn’t until 2017 when he donned his braces! These initial original sketches all sold through Whitby Galleries so I was inspired to keep exploring ‘The Wonderful World of George and Daphne’. 

Fast forward to today, George and Daphne continue to explore a colourful whimsical and fun world, always together and always in love. 

In 2022 they went on their Around the World Anniversary Tour which allowed me to keep exploring where this collection would go. Today the are Football loving, roller skating, tea drinking explorers and have found homes all over the world!