Charlie Moore is a local artist whose painting of Paddington Bear taking a stroll in Maldon's Promenade Park, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, captured many hearts. She spoke to Nub News about her latest projects and Coronation commemorations.

Last year, Charlie's artwork, 'Royal Robin', depicted Paddington Bear being greeted by a robin wearing a crown – a nod to the late Queen. Her design won First Prize at ACL Essex's Christmas card competition.

Charlie told Nub News how the celebrated artwork came about: "I sat on the wall at the Prom, where it was quite quiet. It hadn't been long since the Queen passed away.

"I was looking at the view and decided to draw Paddington from memory. Some little children walked past and said 'mummy, mummy – look, it's Paddington!'

"I said, 'Didn't you see him? He was just here!'

"It was just a magical moment. Everybody fell in love with it. But Paddington is on his own now, so I introduced him to Winnie-the-Pooh."

Charlie's follow-up painting last October, 'Ahoy Pooh', depicted Pooh Bear aboard one of Maldon's iconic Thames sailing barges – with Paddington on the mast.

In 'Ahoy Pooh', a jar of Tiptree marmalade can be spotted alongside some honey. (Image: Charlie Moore)

Coincidentally, a year since Charlie first introduced the two bears in an artwork, she believes Pooh could make an appearance alongside Paddington during this weekend's Coronation celebrations.

Created to mark the King's Coronation on Saturday 6 May, Charlie's latest artwork is called 'Crowning Around' and features the beloved book characters celebrating at Hythe Quay.

Both Paddington and Pooh are now in the public domain, effectively making them public property and no longer protected by copyright law.

Charlie works in the camping industry, for a global organisation which focuses on outdoor living. Her art initially began as a lockdown hobby but blossomed into something much bigger.

She said: "I go from the corporate world in the daytime to putting my painter hat on at night."

As a single mum, Charlie began painting again to earn some extra money, although she lacked confidence in her abilities. But when friends started commissioning her to produce pictures of their homes and pets, Charlie found herself getting a lot busier.

Charlie draws inspiration from her hometown, saying: "Maldon is a picturesque traditional town – so the subject matter makes it easy."

Her influences include the late children's illustrator Shirley Hughes, who wrote and illustrated the 1977 picture book 'Dogger'.

Charlie has painted views from her trips all over the UK, including to Scotland and Cornwall. Recently, she revisited a precious memory of a trip to St Ives with her daughter, in a piece called 'Bubble Tea in St Ives'.

The original artwork was purchased by a resident in St Ives who 'fell in love with it'. (Image: Charlie Moore)

She recalled: "We sat on the sea wall. My daughter was eating spicy Asian noodles and I was drinking bubble tea. I just thought how things had changed - since being a kid and just getting fish and chips. It's a completely different world now."

Having lived in Maldon as a teenager, Charlie moved away from the area before returning seven years ago. Her artworks feature local landmarks and stories, and she says they come from different feelings and experiences she has had in the town.

She added: "They're precious to me – I'm just so glad people love them.

"I treasure the timelessness of the Quay and the barges. They're magnificent - I just want to celebrate and share them."

This month, Charlie plans to have her 'Crowning Around' print displayed on the giant deck chair currently in place in Promenade Park.

She said: "I'm chuffed to bits about that. It feels like another step forward."

When asked whether she would consider quitting the day job to pursue her passion full time, Charlie said: "I would absolutely love to - that would be the dream."

But no passion could be fulfilled without strong family support.

Charlie continued: "My son is so proud of what I do, and I always run stuff by my daughter, too. My dad used to work as a graphic designer, so I get a lot of graphical influences from him. He's so supportive – he's always the first person to comment on my Facebook posts."

'Plane Sailing' is inspired by Charlie's daughter's love for historic aviation, showing Paddington and Pooh flying over Maldon. (Image: Charlie Moore)

Weather permitting, Charlie is set to sell her prints at Promenade Park this Coronation weekend. Next weekend, Charlie hopes to produce some "muddy" pictures to mark the Maldon Mud Race.

She said of the mud race: "It's completely insane, so I take my hat off to those taking part.

"Most of the time, it's freezing cold – and it's hilarious when people get stuck in the mud!"

To view and purchase her prints, visit Charlie's website.

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