Checking it Twice
$375.00
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About Father Christmas The Sleigh Ride
Father Christmas: The Sleigh Ride<br> LIMITED EDITION CANVAS
More exciting than a nip of frost in the air, more highly anticipated than the first snow, is the arrival of Dean Morrissey’s latest creation in his Father Christmas series featuring none other than the worldly traveler with a merry twinkle in his eye.
It’s Christmas Eve and the reindeer are in harness, the sleigh is filled to bursting with gifts. Circumnavigating the earth is a rare enough feat but doing so in the course of one blustery winter night, while making countless deliveries all the way around, is nothing short of remarkable. With his book of names and his sextant tucked nearby for ready reference and celestial navigation, Santa slaps the reins and his enchanted journey begins.
“I wanted to give a little of my sense of the character and the kind of wonder that surrrounds him,” says Morrissey, “both for kids and for grown-ups. Father Christmas is like Frosted Flakes«ùa lot of adults don’t admit that they still love ’em.”
This lavish portrait of Father Christmas in action is sure to be a magical holiday gift for believers of all ages.
It’s Christmas Eve and the reindeer are in harness, the sleigh is filled to bursting with gifts. Circumnavigating the earth is a rare enough feat but doing so in the course of one blustery winter night, while making countless deliveries all the way around, is nothing short of remarkable. With his book of names and his sextant tucked nearby for ready reference and celestial navigation, Santa slaps the reins and his enchanted journey begins.
“I wanted to give a little of my sense of the character and the kind of wonder that surrrounds him,” says Morrissey, “both for kids and for grown-ups. Father Christmas is like Frosted Flakes«ùa lot of adults don’t admit that they still love ’em.”
This lavish portrait of Father Christmas in action is sure to be a magical holiday gift for believers of all ages.
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About the Collection
Dean Morrissey (1951–2021) was a celebrated American fantasy artist and children's book illustrator, renowned for his enchanting oil paintings that bring imaginative worlds to life. His notable works include "The Christmas Ship" and "The Great Kettles," which showcase his whimsical storytelling and masterful depiction of Santa Claus and other fantastical subjects. Morrissey's art is characterized by its rich detail and warmth, making his collectible art prints highly sought after by enthusiasts of fantasy and children's literature illustrations.
Artist Signature
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This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Dean Morrissey.
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"Dean Morrissey has been drawing and creating characters since his childhood in
Boston. Inspired by Disney matte paintings and comic book heroes early on, he
grew to appreciate the works of the masters, such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Pyle
and N.C. Wyeth.
Morrissey worked a variety of job until deciding to paint full time in the late
1970 s. He worked as a freelance book cover illustrator for over 15 different
publishers in New York and won numerous awards. Morrissey is self taught, and
considers the demands of cover illustration to have been his "art school".
In 1991, Morrissey began to paint some images from a story that he was
creating. His books include Ship of Dreams Harry N Abrams (1994), The Great
Kettles: A Tale of Time Harry N Abrams (1997), The Song of Celestine Little,
Brown and Co. (1998), The Christmas Ship HarperCollins (2000), A Christmas
Carol Greenwich Workshop Press (2000), The Moon Robber HarperCollins (2001),
The Winter King HarperCollins (2002), and The Monster Trap HarperCollins
(2004).
His awards include The Society of Illustrators Gold Medal for The Great
Kettles, The Chesley Award for The Light Ship (2002), and he is a current
nominee for this year s Chesley Award for Anna of the Celts (2003).
Morrissey lives with his wife Shan and his son on the South Shore of
Massachusetts.
"
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