Bean Art Galleries

Amelia Earhart

"Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace within yourself." These are the words of Amelia Earhart, one of the world’s most celebrated aviators, a woman who broke records and chartered new horizons. She was born in 1897, had a difficult childhood but was nevertheless a free spirit. One day in the 1920's she paid $1 for a ten minute plane ride. That's all it took to inspire a stunning career in aviation. In 1932, flying solo, she established a new transatlantic record of 13 hours 30 minutes. Many flights followed until her final attempt to fly round the world in 1938 ended in disaster.

Laurel & Hardy

Stan Laurel (the thin one) was born in Ulverston in Cambria in 1890. His father was a showman, actor, director and playwright so the young Stan was introduced early to the world of theatre. Norvell Hardy was born in Georgia USA in 1892. He changed his name to Oliver when he was 18 but acquired the nickname "Babe" which stayed with him for the rest of his life. Laurel and Hardy met after a period of appearing separately in several short films in the 1920s and officially became a team in 1926. Their success as a duo was astounding and enduring. They appeared in 106 films together, laid down a lasting blueprint for comedy partnerships and became hugely famous and massively rich. This charming portrait of Laurel and Hardy owes much to Liquorice and Pink Grapefruit.

James Dean

Born in 1931, Dean's status as a cultural icon is best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film Rebel Without a Cause in which he starred as troubled high school rebel, Jim Stark. The other two roles defining his star power were as the awkward loner Cal Trask in East of Eden and as the surly farmer Jett Rink in Giant. His enduring fame and popularity rests on these three films, his entire starring output. His death at a young age - just 24 - helped guarantee a legendary status. James Dean remains the only person to have two posthumous acting nominations. There are a lot of Cherry Cola, Cappuccino, Caramel Apple and Toasted Marshmallows in this Jelly Belly portrait.

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was born in 1925 and was the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She went to Oxford University to read chemistry and trained as a barrister before becoming MP for Finchley in 1959. Already a conviction politician when she was elected Prime Minster in 1979, she remained controversial throughout her tenure in office - the longest of any Prime Minister for nearly 100 years – until her resignation in 1990. Her tough talking rhetoric gained Thatcher the nickname “Iron Lady” and it could have been this that inspired the Jelly Belly portrait which is quite a formidable representation. She holds a life peerage and as Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven she now sits in the House of Lords.

Queen Elizabeth II

On her 21st birthday, Princess Elizabeth made a speech from South Africa, where she, the King and Queen and Princess Margaret were on holiday. It concluded: "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it."

4 years later, Elizabeth II became queen of the United Kingdom. This charming portrait of Her Majesty captures her youth and beauty. She remains a respected and much loved head of state.

Elvis

Elvis began his career in 1953 as one of the first performers of rockabilly an up - tempo fusion of country, rhythm and blues, still flourishing 50 years later. Presley's mixed "black" and "white" sounds made him popular and controversial. So did his uninhibited stage and television performances which excited the young and shocked the old. His versatile voice and unusually wide success encompassed a range of musical styles and he is the only entertainer that has ever been inducted into four music halls of fame. He made over 30 movies and continued public performance until his death aged 42. This chiselled-jawed fabulous Jelly Belly portrait of Elvis has captured his intensity beautifully.

Elvis

This Jelly Belly portrait of Elvis is in contrast to the other which is a little more sombre. Here Elvis is seen positively brimming - indeed radiating - with happiness and enthusiasm. These pictures show the different sides of Elvis Presley’s personality and charisma.

Marilyn Monroe

Norma Jeane Baker was born in 1926. She spent much of her childhood in foster homes but had an early and successful career as a model which led to her first film contract in 1946. By this time she had changed her name. Marilyn Monroe personified Hollywood glamour with an unparalleled glow and energy that enamoured the world. Although she was an alluring, curvy beauty with a generous pout, Marilyn was more than a '50s sex goddess. Her apparent vulnerability and innocence will always dominate the world of cinema. She died from an overdose of barbiturates in 1962. The Jelly Belly portrait of Marilyn captures one her most famous poses which is copied by wannabes (unsuccessfully) the world over, to this day.

Diana Princess of Wales

Born in 1961, Diana was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales and their sons, Princes William and Harry are second and third in line to the British throne. From the moment her engagement to the Prince was announced, Diana became a public figure and remained the focus of near-constant media scrutiny around the world before, during and after her marriage. In the years following her sudden death in a car crash, which was followed by a spontaneous and prolonged show of public mourning, a popular fascination with the Princess endures.

George Clooney

George Clooney was born in 1961. His mother was once a pageant (beauty) queen and his father a journalist and TV game show host. His aunt was Rosemary Clooney a famous singer of her day. George became the ultimate American heartthrob in his role as the suave and gorgeous lifesaving doctor in television series ER but these days, in addition to acting he has applied his talents to writing, producing and directing movies with considerable success. His artistic pursuits combine with his role as a political activist and in 2008 the United Nations named Clooney a "Messenger of Peace". There is a lot of Blueberry, Berry Blue, Root Beer and Margarita in this portrait of Gorgeous George. No sign of Pine Colada or Tutti-Fruitti though.