'Elementary, my dear Watson...' An iconic image of Holmes and Watson by Sidney Paget. Courtesy Church Farmhouse Museum

Exhibition Preview - Sidney Paget's Sherlock Holmes at Church Farmhouse Museum in Hendon, until May 5 2008.

An exhibition at the Church Farmhouse Museum in Hendon shows the work of Sherlock Holmes illustrator Sidney Paget, marking the 100th anniversary of his death, which falls on January 28 2008.

This exhibition traces Sidney Paget’s view of Holmes through numerous examples of his art and looks at works by later artists as well as background material on Conan Doyle’s immortal creation.

Sidney Paget was born on the Pentonville Road, London on October 4 1860, the son of a vestry clerk. In 1881 he entered the Royal Academy Schools, following in the footsteps of his brothers Henry and Walter, both noted artists.

In his short life he produced numerous portraits in oils (including one of Arthur Conan Doyle) and other paintings, together with hundreds of drawings for magazines such as the Graphic, the Sphere and the Illustrated London News.

Courtesy Church Farmhouse Museum

Today however he is best known for the 350 or so illustrations he produced to accompany the publication of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Homes stories in the Strand magazine. Oddly enough, it is said that Sidney was commissioned as illustrator of the Holmes tales by mistake - it was actually his brother Walter whom the editors wanted.

Paget's black and white drawings have given us the now iconic image of Holmes - the deerstalker, the Inverness cape and aquiline features. It is said Conan Doyle thought that Paget made Holmes too handsome.

The drawings have influenced most of the many later illustrators of Holmes and certainly all the stage and screen adaptations of the great detective’s adventures.

Paget wanted to be remembered as a portrait painter, but just like Conan Doyle, who hoped his fame would rest on his historical novels, it was Paget’s fate to be forever linked with Sherlock Holmes.

Courtesy Church Farmhouse Museum

He died of a chest complaint on 28 January 1908, and he is buried, with his wife and children, in Marylebone Cemetery, Finchley.

The exhibition is also given a Holmes-style mysterious twist. A number of clues are given to visitors who have to try and guess which Holmes’ story they represent.

This is an exhibition preview - have you been to see this show? Why not let us know what you think?