Thelwell Ponies

Thelwell ponies are the creation of Norman Thelwell, one of Britain’s most loved cartoonists. Norman Thelwell sadly passed away at the age of 80 in 2004, leaving behind a vast body of work and a legacy to the British public. His images of ponies have become iconic and synonymous with the British countryside.

Norman Thelwell is best known for his humorous cartoons of little girls and their fat little ponies but his talents went far beyond that, and he created many other cartoons throughout his life. He has 32 books published on subjects ranging from ponies to cats and dogs, fishing, sailing, motoring, gardening, golf, children, the environment and stately homes.

While drawing other countryside images, Thelwell’s first pony cartoon was inspired by his observations of two fat, hairy ponies that grazed in a field next to his house, who were owned by two little girls, who, as Thelwell put it, “could have done with losing a few ounces themselves”!

The two ponies had an uncertain temperament and would kick out at the little girls as they approached them, but before they knew it they had head collars on and were lead meekly away. And so Thelwell’s famous pony and rider images were born.

Born in 1923, in Birkenhead, Cheshire, Norman Thelwell had his first pony cartoon published in Punch in 1953, and this was the accidental birth of a lifetime of association of his name with the image of a fat little girl with a fat hairy pony! When people started asking for more drawings and sending Thelwell fan mail he didn’t know quite what to draw at first! As soon as he dreamed up some more images the Thelwell ponies became part of history.

His first collection of cartoons to be published as a book was entitled Angels On Horseback, which was published in 1957. In 1961 he published A Leg at Each Corner, this was his first book to be produced from cover to cover, rather than being a collection of previously published drawings. It was serialised by the Sunday Express and led to the development of the, now well-known, strip cartoon characters Penelope and Kipper.

The rest, you could say, is history, and nowadays you can buy just about anything with Thelwell ponies on it. The images enjoyed such huge, widespread popularity that they have become collectors items, and over 50 years on since the first Thelwell pony cartoon was published they are still as popular and loved as ever.

Thelwell ponies really are iconic images that seem to somehow represent the British countryside and the humour of the nation. Norman Thelwell was a great man and talented cartoonist who is sadly missed, but his legacy lives on.

Three-dimensional Thelwell pony figures are now extremely collectable and you can also get Thelwell ponies as jigsaw puzzles, table mats, coasters, wall clocks, fridge magnets, mirrors, picture frames, egg cups, duvet covers, pillow cases, curtains, framed prints, window stickers, horse treats, socks, mugs, dishes, glasses, stationery, playing cards, greetings cards, door mats, alarm clocks, mouse mats, umbrellas, PVC bags, diaries, calendars, books, stable rugs, summer sheets, saddle pads, baseball caps, and of course, greetings cards.

Tagged as: Thelwell Ponies