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PRIME ARTIST: Berkhamsted painter thrilled after Boris buys her work

 Published on: 10th May 2021   |   By: Jake Levison   |   Category: Uncategorized

A Berkhamsted artist was delighted that the Prime Minister decided to buy her painting, which depicted the politician with his family.

Mary Casserley’s old fashioned, travel art-style painting, called Chequers Court, depicts the Prime Minister walking beside flowerbeds with his dog, Dilyn, while his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, and their baby son, Wilfred, picnic nearby in the garden of their country home.

The local painter inserted Boris and his family into the piece after deciding she wanted to add figures to her usual historic building and country setting artwork.

Once she finished painting, she had a postcard made and sent it to No 10 Downing Street, prompting the PM to buy the original off her.

Mary, who painted Chequers Court in August last year, said: “I often make cards and prints out of my pictures, so I ordered a few of Chequers Court and then, on a whim, I sent a postcard to Number 10. 

“I sent a very polite, cheery message addressed to Mr Johnson and Miss Symonds.

“Just a couple of weeks later I got a handwritten letter from Boris! It was on the back of a Chequers postcard, and it said something like: ‘Thank you for sending the picture – it’s terrific. Well done – I don’t suppose it’s for sale?’

“I didn’t expect that in 100 years. I jotted a note back saying ‘Yes’ and then I didn’t hear anything back for months. I followed it up in February and had to go through a whole process with his personal secretary.”

The PM has finally purchased the painting now, which has drawn national attention to Mary’s work. 

The Daily Mail has written an article about her, while her painting also featured on Have I Got News For You last month.

Mary added: “I never expected this, because I haven’t even pushed this story. I’m a member of the Berkhamsted Art Society, and a couple of months ago they asked if any members had any news for their newsletter. 

“So I told them about this, and that’s literally all I’ve done. It’s just escalated from there.”

The artist said that while she doesn’t know how many people have seen her work, it’s “certainly had quite a lot of interest”.

To check out Mary’s other paintings, go to marycasserley.com

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