Owl and the Pussycat's Arrival to Gravesend

"The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

- Edward Lear


The scene is based on Edward Lear’s famous nonsense poem, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’. His inspiration for the poem came from Gravesend’s first coat of arms depicting a blue porcupine steering a green boat with seven hooded rowers. I based the two iconic characters on their pea-green boat arriving in Gravesend, the town of their origin with the iconic town pier welcoming the pair that welcomes all who come by boat to the town.

I have created two previous versions of this scene, the first design was created in school in 2016, and the other in college in 2019. This scene is the most expressive and eye-catching out of the three. It has been displayed in two art exhibitions: Gravesend Art Group 2022 exhibition and Bringing People Together; both times displayed in Gravesend’s St. George’s Arts Centre. It is now privately owned.