Edmund Woolley, Pet Portraiteer
When, on surveying his often disturbing works, I asked local artist Martin Alton whether he was happy, he replied that indeed he was - because he painted out all the angst. "If I were unhappy," he added, "I'd be painting fluffy cats." (TDT Winter 2006). Now, we do have a fluffy cat painter in the Village. Inevitably in the quest for deeper understanding I would make my way to his door. Inside, the house was equally immaculate, the atmosphere calm, with no sign of the tortured pet-painter I half expected to see. Instead, a young-looking, fit fellow, with a fine sense of humour, in slip-ons, but no socks, as befits an artist.
Edmund Woolley trained as a graphic artist at Manchester College of Art. He was not drawn to art through passion, but because he found he was able to do it well. In search of adventure, he emigrated to Canada, got a job with a publishing house, trekked through the States into Latin America; then the pull of England drew him back to live in London. He managed to make a tidy living from freelance work, with a studio in Tottenham Court Road. In 1982 he settled with his wife Dorly (Dorothee) in Embercourt Road where he has a well-lit studio, perfectly conducive to work.
Edmund began painting pets as a sideline in 1980, his own dog being the first subject. He soon discovered that animals showed no respect for the toils of portraiture and were unwilling to hold a pose for hours. This might have caused some fleeting unhappiness, but, eminently pragmatic, he found the best solution was to work from a variety of photographs to reconstruct the ideal version of the subject. This also carried the significant advantages, rarely enjoyed by artists, that the work could be done in comfortable circumstances indoors at times to suit the artist's convenience. To Edmund's gratification, he found a real talent for catching the essence or soul of the animal: "It is a solitary occupation," he comments, "but when it works, it is deeply satisfying and I enjoy seeing their owners so happy, as well as the recognition."
Such is Edmund's proficiency in an overcrowded field - Googling for 'pet portraits UK' gets you 2,270,000 hits on the Internet - that he has sold many paintings of their pets to celebrities. And, I must say, at very reasonable prices. Actresses Jenny Seagrove and lately Shirley Maclaine; Georgio Armani and Michael Barrymore; all have had their pets painted by Edmund. When he was invited to Buckingham Palace for graphic design work he'd done for the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme, of course he discreetly suggested that the Royal Corgis might make good subjects but alas the proposition was graciously declined.
A member of Molesey Art Society, in semi-retirement Edmund is branching out into landscapes and other natural subjects. I could not forbear from asking whether this was because he had finally come to terms with the inner turmoil that must go with painting fluffy pets. Apparently not. So - back to the drawing board…
our reporting staff