The Lambton Wurm

A commentary on a fractured Britain

This drawing is about Brexit, the UK’s referendum on leaving the European Union. The vote and the aftermath have left Britain a fractured and angry country.

The Lambton Wurm is a famous legend from the North East of England, a part of the UK that overwhelmingly voted to leave the EU. The legend tells of a giant worm that terrorizes the countryside, devouring livestock and children. In this drawing, the Wurm represents the nationalist, populist, and ultimately dishonest narrative of the Leave campaign. The body of the Wurm is made of Bricks from towns that all had a majority Leave vote, from big places like Sunderland to small towns like Burnley.

Inside the Wurm’s mouth is the Houses of Parliament. The Wurm is a parasite that has taken over the host of parliamentary democracy, a theme I have used in other drawings.

The drawing also features a portrait of the great English footballer Alan Shearer, a hero in the North East. I used his face to replace the face on the Angel of the North, another North East icon. I am not suggesting Alan Shearer is a Brexit supporter, I have no idea. His image is there to represent the pride and identity of the region.

It’s an angry drawing. It’s meant to be.

Artwork Details