There’s never been a more important time to know your Ernest.
We live in a world of artificial intelligence and the interweb, where ideas travel at extraordinary speed and originality can feel ever more fragile. When my work is copied, my first instinct is to protect it, defend it and draw a line around what’s mine. But Ernest (the character I draw) has led me somewhere else: towards the possibility that creativity can remain open-hearted, that sharing is good and that imitation can become an inspiration in itself.
There are battles to be fought over copyright of course, and plenty of avenues through which to pursue them. But for a sensitive person it’s not without emotional cost. Personally, the more I focus on what’s bad, the worse I feel. And there’s never really a win as such. The faster you knock them down the faster they pop up again, it’s like a game of Whack-a-Mole. Happily I find myself drawn towards the positive: the pleasure of creating, and the freedom that comes with gratitude, acceptance and generosity.
Recently, some of my most popular images have been taken in great number, reproduced on a much grander scale, traced, then repainted onto canvas in the Far East. It’s shocking! I was angry, sad and then very afraid. Gradually though, those feelings gave way to something unexpected: inspiration. The strength of my feelings encouraged me to venture well out of my comfort zone and to experiment with several larger pieces for this exhibition.
As you may know I’m not really a painter. I’m a crayoner. I use small oil pastel sticks to create layers of colour, so making larger pieces is a genuine challenge. But I’ve relished it. The work has opened up a new sense of possibility. And I may even go bigger!!
So thank you, thieves.
Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places.
That said, there is only one Ernest Hemmingway Mustard and he has lived in my head for the longest time. He reminds me that it really is important to be earnest: decent, forgiving and generous of spirit.
Self-acceptance, authenticity and compassion sit at the heart of this work. And by another odd chain of events - noticing a slogan on a T-shirt from the front seat of a double decker - I was led to the RNLI. The words said ‘Charity, Fortitude and Hope’ and I was moved by how closely those words reflected what I’ve been trying to paint for years.
So I decided to donate the proceeds from the sale of Sea Shanties to the RNLI. It seemed a perfect way for the goodness of Ernest to travel even beyond the walls of Panter & Hall. I hope someone lovely buys it. I know they will.
There’s plenty of bad things happening all around us and a lot of noisy shouting going on. But alongside all that, often quietly and without recognition, people are still helping one another, turning up and doing what needs to be done. It’s worth noticing. And that - the noticing - is one the most important things of being Ernest.
Thank you World.
Sam Toft 2026
● Sold
Due to high demand, all purchases will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis and we will not be able to reserve any items.
