Norman Thelwell’s daughter Penny Jones said: “ I very much look forward to seeing Dad’s ponies coming to life on screen so that a new generation can discover the iconic Thelwell pony – and their parents can rediscover characters they knew from his books when they were children.” After the war, where undoubtedly he firmed up his belief that drawing was the way forward, he went to art school and a few years later taught design and illustration at another art school.

Norman Thelwell was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, on 3 May 1923. His earliest surviving drawing is a pencil self-portrait done at the age of 10, on which his teacher has written in red ink: ‘V. good indeed’. He remembers always wanting to draw as a child and recalls finding drawing and painting much easier than other subjects –‘with drawing, the answer was always there in front of you – you only had to look’. His love of the countryside was fostered by childhood visits to a North Wales farm and was strengthened throughout his life. Thelwell Country: 70 years of Norman Thelwell ISBN 0-901723-33-9 (2003–4) [exhibition catalogue, Southampton City Art Gallery] Perhaps I shouldn’t be so pleased with myself for finally finishing this short, and hopefully entertaining post. Punch Afloat (1974) – contains two sections written by Thelwell, pp. 36 and 80, as well as additional illustrationsIn 1962 the world was introduced to Penelope and her pony Kipper who were modeled after his daughter Penelope and her pony Kipper. Originally a comic strip, the series morphed into several books and in 2021, into a TV series and a movie: Merrylegs the Movie is due out in 2023. Today [3 May 2023] marks the 100 th anniversary of Norman’s birth and, throughout the year, his children, David and Penny, are celebrating the occasion – as well as the Thelwell Pony turning 70 – with exhibitions and republications of his books!

The film is intended for a 2023 release to mark and celebrate Norman Thelwell’s centenary, one of the 20th century’s most beloved and well-known British children’s authors, his collection of 34 books continue to sell millions of copies worldwide, translated into a variety of languages and remains one of the only British heritage family franchises fully unexploited for film. In 1944, he took evening classes in art at Nottingham Art School. [3] A fellow art student, Rhona, became his wife in 1949. [3] They had one son and one daughter. [2] [3] No cast has been officially announced yet, but certainly under way. Especially for the role of Penny a character inspired by Thelwell’s daughter. That task will go to Michelle Smith ( The Runaways, Aladdin, Once Upon a Time in London) . Merrylegs and the other ponies will be brought to life all thanks VFX and Peter Field ( Bond franchise, Wonder Woman 1984, Fast & Furious 9) and expert horseman Vic Armstrong (The Amazing Spider-Man, Bond franchise, Thor). I had always assumed, because it’s rather easier than research, that Norman Thelwell’s entire career centered around ponies. Specifically around those fat disgruntled wayward ponies with knobbly knees and disheveled manes and the chubby undeterred little children that rode them, who, if under instruction were taught by a plump, heavily bosomed instructor in a tweed coat.

Pony Mail

But it wasn’t his ponies that were found in the magazine in the first year. It was his idea of British country life, focusing on the ineptness of humans and the cunning of animals praying on us weak-minded folk.