From the miners strike and ‘snatching’ milk from schoolchildren, to the Falklands War and her close relationship with the USA and Ronald Regan, no prime minister in living memory has ever had such a far-reaching influence on the social landscape of Britain and the world. Nor has a premier divided public opinion so robustly.

But for Radlett-resident and artist, Thomas Plunkett, 40, the chance to paint Baroness Thatcher’s ceremonial funeral earlier this year, was, he says, an honour.

“I know she’s a polarising figure – some people greatly admire her and others don’t,“ says Thomas. “I was born in 1972, so she was the only prime minister I knew until I was about 19.

“I suppose, yes, I admire her for being the first woman Prime Minister and lots of her achievements, but I know for some people her legacy isn’t quite so rosy.

“You have to admire someone that puts that much energy into her public life, and I suppose she will always be remembered, she’s not one that’s going to slip from the historic view.“

Thomas was asked by the publisher at Unicorn Press to paint Margaret Thatcher’s funeral ceremony with the aim of publishing his finished pieces in a book.

On the day, The president of the Royal Watercolour Society sketched 47 images of the funeral outside St Paul’s, as well as taking photograhs to work from.

Now the fruits of his labours are available for all to see in his publication: The Ceremonial Funeral of Baroness Thatcher.

“The day itself was all very respectful and subdued.

“Even the protesters and those who had come to pay their respects were respectful of one another, it was very British.

“The publisher had left it up to me to paint what I wanted, so I had a free reign, really, which was quite fun,“ he says.

“People did become interested in what I was doing, particularly at the speed at which I was working.

“At the time you’re not saying ‘I’m doing a book’ because you don’t know how it’s going to turn out or what it’s going to be like, but they were interested.“

For a day packed with mixed emotions, according to Thomas it is still difficult to pinpoint a particularly moving, memorable instance.

“As I was setting up, there was a homeless man who said ‘You couldn’t do my portrait, could you?’ so I did a quick sketch, tore it out of the back of the book, signed it and gave it to him, and he said ‘That’s great, you’ve made my day’.

“But it’s tricky, there were some really quite poignant moments that really struck me throughout the day, the coffin being carried on the shoulders of soldiers , the honour guard of the Chelsea pensioners, the crowds and such.“

  • The Ceremonial Funeral of Baroness Thatcher, A Sketchbook by Thomas J. Plunkett, President of the Royal Watercolour Society, is available via unicornpress.com