John Billy (Wilk) Wilkinson lived in Keswick, born in 1906 he died in 1994, he is famous for his gentle caricatures of Lakeland characters and today many of his works command prices of several hundred pounds at auction. I did not know Wilk but my father and great uncles did, one of whom he drew in 1935. If memory serves The Pheasant public house up by Keswick hospital once had a fine collection of his work on the wall. Below are a few of his “hunting” works.

Email me if you can give information about anymore of his cartoons.

George Graham, Phil Davidson and Johnnie Richardson by Wilk, 1989

Holed, Joe Wear and his terriers, by Wilk, date unknown

“When the Moon comes over the mountain”
Joe Wear and his hounds outside the Travellers Rest Grasmere by Wilk, 1987

Update June 2010 - More Wilk

Since we ran the Wilk pictures a little while ago, several people have contacted us with others and some stories, so here is a “larl bit more abut Wilk”.

“Wilk” or John William Wilkinson was born, lived and died in Brigham in Keswick. He was born in 1906 and on leaving school started work at a bobbin mill and then became a fitter for the Keswick Gas Company. In 1954 with his wife Mary he opened a shop in the front room of his house Greta Cottage. His cartoons of local people especially hunting and trail hound followers are very collectable.

Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
2nd April 2002

Saturday, 20 April 2002
“WILK” CARTOON TOPS £1,000 FOR FIRST TIME

PAINTINGS found in the back of a wardrobe at an unoccupied house at Keswick generated keen interest when they came under the auctioneer’s hammer while a cartoon by former town artist “Wilk” topped £1,000 for the first time.

The record-making “Wilk” depicted famed Blencathra huntsman the late Johnnie Richardson, with hounds and terriers on a snow-covered fell.
Indeed, five works by the late Keswick cartoonist Bill Wilkinson featured in the quarterly catalogue sale of antiques and collectors’ items conducted by Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s.

The following story was sent to me by a lady, and the story give some idea of “Wilk’s” talent. It was accompanied by a copy of the picture she refers to (see below).

“I have in my possession a fine Wilk caricature it is unusual as it features two ladies both called Elsie, & Billy did not usually feature women in his work. I knew Billy briefly when my husband & I were tenants of The Twa Dogs inn during 1976-79 & remember him as a very nice man. He presented us with the picture after watching the two Elsie’s who were friends & neighbours living in the cottages next to the pub. Billy lived opposite, as you will know. The larger Elsie had a regular visit to the hospital outpatient dept & can be seen getting into the ambulance helped by the smaller Elsie. I’m sorry I cannot remember either of these ladies last names but were both from Keswick & lived there all their lives. I do however remember the third person in the picture, a real character, his name was Jimmy Matthieson, he also lived in the cottages beside the Elsies. He is walking with his bike which he used as a walking frame as he was too old to ride on it even back then, alongside is his Jack Russell dog with my own dog a German shepherd watching on. It really is an interesting picture featuring three real characters of the time that I remember fondly. The larger Elsie had a liking for her baubles, earrings bracelets etc, which are captured to great effect in the scene.”

The “Twa Dogs” pub in Keswick has a good number of “Wilk” cartoons on display if you're passing and it’s a good pint as well

http://www.twadogs.co.uk/home.htm

NB. Some of the following images have been photographed behind glass and so the camera flash is visible.

George Graham

George Graham and a Follower

Sir Percy Hope

Wha's Terrier Dist'a Put In?

When the Moon Comes over the Mountain

Believe it or not it happened at Grasmere

Thanks to those people who sent pictures, especially Brenda and Margaret.

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES

Pennine Times

Pictures

Ramblings

Hound Trailing

Mérens Horse

Letter from France

Packwoman's Grave

Equestrian Art

The Visiting Hunt

Coniston in the 50s & 60s

PUB TALK

Postcards

The Fell Pony

Beatrix Potter

Girt Drops

Fell Hunter's Lament

Bugger Off

Rydal Deer Park

The Losts Foxes of Lakeland

The Lost Packs of Lakeland

Cartoons by Wilk (updated)

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