The Northamptonshire caricaturist on the portrait 30-years-in the making
A caricaturist whose work has appeared far and wide, from The Guardian to Spitting Image, is embarking on an exciting adventure with a new portrait.
A Northamptonshire artist is hoping that a portrait that has been 30 years in the making will finally put a face to a figure lost to history.
The caricaturist Adrian Teal has long been fascinated with the story of the Mutiny on the Bounty, one of the most well-known mutinies in the British Royal Navy.
For those unacquainted with the story, in 1787, during an expedition to Tahiti to collect breadfruit to transport to the West Indies, the master’s mate Fletcher Christian, took control of the Bounty, casting captain Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 of his men adrift in the ocean.
Despite inspiring numerous Hollywood movies and being portrayed by actors including Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson, there has never been an official portrait of Fletcher Christian.
Adrian said: “I find it maddening because he’s such a fascinating character but there’s no face to put to the character and that to me was a wrong that needed to be righted.”
Through 30 years of research, which took Adrian from London to Norfolk and the Isle of Man, the artist has now painted what he believes to be the most reliable portrait of the mutineer.
Adrian said: “It’s been a labour of love.
“There’s 30 years of love, care and research in every brushstroke.”
The portrait marks something of a departure for the caricaturist; whose work has appeared far and wide, from The Times and The Guardian to the puppets of the popular satirical programme Spitting Image.
The Northamptonshire born and bred artist hopes the portrait will introduce a new audience to the tale of the famous mutiny.
He said: “It’s just such a fascinating story that I want to share it with as many people as possible.
“Even though I’ve painted this portrait of him now I’d love to know what the guy looked like.
“Nobody would be happier than me if a genuine contemporary portrait turned up and then we could put them side by side and compare and see how right I was.”
Head to The Northants Telegraph’s YouTube channel to watch a full video of this story or watch the video at the top of this page, where you can take a peek inside Adrian’s Thrapston studio and learn more about his career as a caricaturist.