We are delighted to be able to bring you Ernie's long-anticipated book depicting his unique perspective of his home town.

Ernie was able to complete the content only days before his sad passing in September 2019 and, after some deliberation, the family decided, in his memory, to proceed with Ernie's intention to publish, as it has been widely enquired after.

More than 90 pages (A5 landscape shape) are filled with my full colour, high quality photographs of Ernie's paintings; anecdotes and personal stories from his life-experiences and maritime memories, past and present. All expertly printed and bound by RPD Printers of Gorleston. Many thanks to their small-but-perfectly-formed team of enthusiastic experts.

We first had to decide on the size and shape of the book. A5 was the decision as it was an easily pocketable standard size.

Taking full advantage of the page size, it immediately became obvious that portraits and landscapes would not be comfortable together as one A5 book without the need to rotate the book to view portrait shaped canvases (which neither of us wanted). So Ernie decided that we should separate out only landscape-shaped paintings for this book, and that portrait-shaped canvases should be reserved for another volume.

We began work on both volumes in tandem to preserve the "feel" but then we concentrated on the landscape book to work towards printing and publication.

That became "Ernie Childs - My Thoughts On Canvas" -  the book you see here.

"Book 2" is taking some time to complete. Even though during the building of the books Ernie relayed the background and his thoughts to me about each painting in the portrait format, in his absence, it is taking some time to stitch together. I'm working on it as we speak!

Those who choose to register their interest with Karen will be first to hear about the publication of Book 2.

Watch this space!

"My Thoughts..." shown here, contains a reply slip to be returned to Karen by those interested in being notified about Book 2 when it becomes available. Other ways to register your interest are by phone or email to Karen.

This book (and Book 2) was inspired by, and was produced in response to the kind folk who requested a smaller sized version of an original giant portfolio of Ernie's paintings.

We had produced the large, bound, laminated portfolio of Ernie's paintings especially to take to exhibition spaces where there simply wasn't space to exhibit Ernie's Giant Paintings.  The portfolio attracted a lot of attention and resulted in lots of requests to make something like it available in a smaller size.

It has brought a lot of pleasure to be able to put this collection together and offer it to you. We all hope you like it.

And here's to the next!   (Roy).

At last we are able to offer you the "twin" to Book 1.

Book 2 has taken an inordinate amount of time to complete, owing, largely to the absence of dear Ernie.

However, we are delighted to say all that delay is behind us now and we have the 'real McCoy' in our hands.

Many thanks to all those generous supporters who ordered in advance; your orders are being fulfilled right now.

Many thanks in advance to all you prospective purchasers too. I get a warm feeling, knowing that the proceeds from the sales of all things associated with Ernie now go in support of The Ernie Childs Memorial Fund, which plans a permanent memorial in his home town.

It is a beautiful book, (same page numbers as Book 1), which sports Ernie's portrait style paintings of the family and other dignitaries (!) as well as Ernie's favourite spots: The Rows, where he was born and raised. As well as other canvases which suit the portrait format.

His ambition was always to record each of the Rows on canvas but, very sadly, he ran out of time.

We should be grateful, though, for the images that he DID manage to create for us. You can feel his passion in every carefully-considered brush stroke as he brings to life the everyday happenings in the narrow passageways that were his childhood home and playground.

We all hope very much that you like the 'intimacy' of Book 2. It is quite different in a way from Book 1 in that Ernie was often asked to tell the story of HIS life and times and was a little reluctant because he much preferred to 'run on' about his beloved Great Yarmouth; the history of the town ran through his very veins. I joked that if Ernie had been created as a stick of rock, there can be no doubt of the lettering that would run end-to-end! (Roy smiles, nostalgically).

However reluctant he was to talk of himself and his family, he respected the genuine requests from his fans very much. And so, Book 2 has become something of a revelation, where Ernie, Karen, Marc, Lee and I will show you the family side of himself; the business side of himself and how the man's capacity for love in all it's guises has spilled over into his work and his family.

A truly great legacy, and one I am very proud to witness and be a part of. (Roy).

You're welcome to pop into

St Mary's Church Hall, Southtown Road

between 10 and 12 on Tuesday mornings during

Ernie's Memorial Art Group meetings.

Please ring Karen first to establish that there is a meeting of the group  and to let her know you will be calling to make a purchase.