Born in Jersey in 1886, Edmund Blampied studied at the Lambeth School of Art and the London County Council School of photo-engraving and Lithography at Bolt Court, London. His work is very eclectic, as Blampied created numerous oils, watercolours, drawings, bronze, and prints. He is mostly known for his etchings, drypoints, and illustrations published in many newspaper and magazines for which he created illustrations of British life in ink and sepia wash. A prolific artist, Blampied's career slowed down during the Second World War, as he moved from London to Jersey, where the German occupation isolated him from the London Art scene.
This drawing, whose humour and fluidity of lines is characteristic of Blampied's style, belonged to the collection of Sir Bruce Ingram, publishing entrepreneur and philanthropist, editor of 'The Illustrated London News’. The drawing was also in the collection of the late John Appleby. An art connoisseur and collector, John Appleby had a passion for the Channel Islands, where he worked as a dealer in the 70s. He published several books, including a catalogue raisonné of Edmund Blampied's work.
Blampied's work is held in many public and private collections, including The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; Jersey Heritage, Channel Islands; The British Museum, London; The Courtauld Gallery, London.