Mansfield Woodhouse young artist's sketch depicting hero Captain Tom goes viral

A sketch by a young Mansfield Woodhouse artist who was inspired by the story of “Captain Tom” – the 99-year-old Second World War veteran who raised the huge sum of £27m for the NHS – has gone viral on the internet.
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Nineteen-year-old Ella Williamson was inspired to pick up her pencils and pad, after hearing the story of Yorkshireman Capt Tom Moore who walked 100 lengths of his garden to raise money for the NHS Charities Together.

‘Tom's 100th Birthday Walk For The NHS’ was completed at his Bedfordshire home, where he now lives with his family, on April 16. He completed his final 10 laps with media coverage and a guard of honour from the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment.

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Ella Williamson, who has been drawing for years and is a former art and design student at West Notinghamshire Vision College, decided to draw a split image of Tom showing him as a young man in his army uniform, and in his later life entitled “once a hero, always a hero.”

Tami and Ella Williamson with the Captain Tom sketch (Picture credit: Tami and Ella Williamson)Tami and Ella Williamson with the Captain Tom sketch (Picture credit: Tami and Ella Williamson)
Tami and Ella Williamson with the Captain Tom sketch (Picture credit: Tami and Ella Williamson)

Ella, who works part-time at Morrisons, said: “I was just overwhelmed at what a big thing he had done for the NHS, he went through the War and it made me think he was a hero then, but he is still a hero. I was so inspired by him and I just wanted to draw him, I love drawing.

“My mum Tami Williamson was so proud of what I did, she went ahead and posted it on her Facebook page. I put it on my Facebook page and Instagram, too, but it went crazy on mum’s page, and she got over 1.9k likes and 4,8k shares! I couldn’t believe it!”

“It has also been liked by Captain Tom pages run by his family, so I am hoping he likes it. I have decided I am going to sign it and send it to himas a card for his 100th birthday on April 30.”

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Ellas’s work is also in demand. Claire Bramley Britain’s strongest woman who has commissioned Ella to do a giant piece of work for her private gym.

To see Ella’s work and others see Ella_art_account on Instagram or on Facebook.