Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For nearly 70 years, Paddington Bear has charmed readers worldwide. But many fans don’t realize the beloved bear is actually illustrated in Barrington, Rhode Island.
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Illustrator R. W. Alley has been “looking after” Paddington for decades, creating the artwork for new editions of the classic stories originally written by Michael Bond. From his sun-filled home studio, Alley brings the iconic character to life with pen and ink, watercolor, and occasionally even a little coffee.
Beyond Paddington, Alley is also writing and illustrating his own children’s book series inspired by the people and places of Rhode Island. His “Breezy Valley” books introduce young readers to community workers—from firefighters to librarians—drawing on real experiences and local expertise from towns like Barrington.
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For nearly 70 years, Paddington Bear has charmed readers worldwide. But many fans don’t realize the beloved bear is actually illustrated in Barrington, Rhode Island.
Subscribe to the Ocean State Media YouTube channel: youtube.com/@oceanstatemediari?sub_confirmation=1
Illustrator R. W. Alley has been “looking after” Paddington for decades, creating the artwork for new editions of the classic stories originally written by Michael Bond. From his sun-filled home studio, Alley brings the iconic character to life with pen and ink, watercolor, and occasionally even a little coffee.
Beyond Paddington, Alley is also writing and illustrating his own children’s book series inspired by the people and places of Rhode Island. His “Breezy Valley” books introduce young readers to community workers—from firefighters to librarians—drawing on real experiences and local expertise from towns like Barrington.
Subscribe to The Daily Catch newsletter: lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/SpuOl16
Follow Ocean State Media on Instagram: instagram.com/ocean.state.media
Like Ocean State Media on Facebook: facebook.com/OceanStateMediaRI
Follow Ocean State Media on X: https://x.com/OSMediaRI
Follow Ocean State Media on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/oceanstateme...
Visit our website: oceanstatemedia.org
