Falling into Wonderland: A Family Story and a Painting's Journey

The Real Alice and Our Family Connection​

​​As I begin my journey into painting the world of Alice in Wonderland, it feels only fitting to start with a story close to home one that’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. This is not 'family legend' this is an historical fact,  that  Alice Liddell was my great, great (and possibly a few more greats) Aunt and was the real-life inspiration for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.  

​​My Connection to Alice
Charles Dodgson, better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll was a Don at Oxford and a close friend of the Liddell family. He wrote the story for, and about, young Alice. In our family, this connection wasn’t something we learned from books; it was simply something we knew, passed down through stories and conversations from year dot. It has always resonated with me, and as I am re-reading, not for the first time, this fantastic book, I am feeling more and more connected to the orginal Alice.

A Portrait in the Cellar​
Another spark for this project came from a long-forgotten portrait of Lorina Liddell, Alice’s mother and wife of the then Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. For years, it lay hidden in my uncle’s cellar, placed there by my grandmother—who apparently thought Mrs. Liddell looked a bit too cross to hang on the wall (to be fair, with nine children, who wouldn’t?).

Thankfully, my cousin rescued the portrait and had it professionally restored. The result is striking and beautiful. One thing that caught my eye: she’s surrounded by oranges. It’s a small but intriguing detail. ​

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Marmalade Muses
As family stories go, this one is particularly delicious. Lorina Liddell was said to be very fond of marmalade, and she sent her personal recipe down to the local grocer—Frank Cooper—who would go on to found Frank Cooper’s Oxford Marmalade.  Could the oranges in the portrait be a tribute to this? A visual homage to her marmalade legacy? Whether coincidence or coded symbolism, it adds another layer to the work—and my own inspiration.

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​The Painting: Falling​
My latest piece, Falling, marks the beginning of a larger body of work inspired by Alice’s descent into Wonderland. It captures that surreal, in-between moment—when she tumbles past bookcases, cupboards, and half-remembered objects into the unknown.

Alice never mentions her mother during the fall, but she does fret about her cat, Dinah—wondering if she’ll miss her—and reflects on what her friends would think if they could see her. That tender homesickness, mixed with the absurdity of Wonderland, creates a strange emotional balance that fascinates me.​​

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​​Mediums, Methods, and More to Come
The idea behind Falling began several years ago as an etching—a quiet and exploratory start. Since then, the project has grown to include oil paintings, gouache sketches, and watercolour studies. Each medium brings something unique: the delicacy of watercolour, the boldness of gouache, the depth of oil.
In this reimagining, Alice is a little more contemporary—though still firmly unplugged (no mobile phones here!). She’s caught in that timeless state between home and the thrill of adventure.

And this is just the beginning. More paintings are coming. More curiosity awaits.  If you’re intrigued by this series, keep an eye on my blog or my instagram for sneak peeks and exhibition updates.