Spotlight on Art Dookie Dookie by Lucy Dawson Copyright: The Kennel Club Arts Foundation This lovely pastel is of the Welsh Corgi Dookie by Lucy Dawson. Dookie was very special as he was the first Corgi owned by King George VI, Her Majesty The Queen’s father. It was because of Dookie that the then Princess Elizabeth fell in love with the breed and has become one of the longest established breeders of Corgis. Dookie, whose Kennel Name was Rozavel Golden Eagle was bred by Thelma Gray in 1933 and as we know was the first in a long line of Royal Corgis. Dookie was chosen by His Majesty King George VI because he had a slightly longer tail than his litter mates. This appealed to the then Princess Elizabeth as she wanted him to have something to wag so that she would know if he was pleased or not. The artist is Lucy Dawson. She was particularly well known for her book illustrations and also produced a number of postcards under the pseudonym ‘Mac’. Many will recognise this as the name that appears on a lot of her work. She drew this portrait of Dookie at Royal Lodge, Windsor. Dookie by Lucy Dawson Your activity The artist has used pastels for this portrait as she did with most of her work. Have a closer look at it - what do you like about it? It’s a lovely memory of a first childhood pet. Perhaps you could draw a memory you have of when you first got your dog? Maybe it could be the first time they came home, or with the first toy you bought them? Have fun creating a lovely memory to keep!.