In 1968, whilst studying at Oldham Art School, I was in an illustration class eating jelly babies. I took out a black jelly baby and painted it with gouache paint. I gave it orange hair, a yellow shirt with red buttons and green dungarees and called him Wilbur. I placed him in a small box with cotton wool and have kept him ever since. Wilbur is 42 years old this year.(2010)
He has appeared in a number of exhibitions and has pride of place as being the first and oldest artefact that I created. As I don't remember the actual date, he has an official birthday, like the Queen! But that is a secret!!