Help Bring Mary Cane-Honeysett’s Untold Story to Life

Hello, my name is Tony Cane-Honeysett and I'm an independent filmmaker. Over the past 20 years, I've made two documentaries about my mum, Mary Cane-Honeysett, and her wonderful art. One was called The Royal Academy and the second titled Brushstroke both currently on YouTube. I began filming her when she was 74 years old. When she died in 2016, amongst her possessions was a personal book she'd written about the first 21 years of her life. The book was never published.

She lived through some of the most challenging and remarkable times in history. Her story—an intimate account of resilience, love, and survival from 1929 to 1949—is a deeply personal and vivid reflection of a time long past, filled with black-and-white photographs, memories of struggle, and triumph in the heart of London. She was an extraordinary woman, born into a humble, working-class family in London between two world wars.

Although my mother passed away before her story could reach others, with the help of the latest AI technology, I have the incredible opportunity to bring her words and memories to life in a way that honors her legacy. Through this project, I will be able to restore her old photographs to full color, adding depth and life to the images that once felt so distant. These still images, brought to motion, will transport viewers back to the bustling streets of London, the small but vibrant communities, and the extraordinary events that shaped the lives of everyday people like my mother. And, most significantly, I want to use AI to clone my mother’s voice from existing recordings, allowing her to narrate her own story—a story of growing up amidst war, hardship, and the constant pursuit of a better life. This will not only make the experience more authentic but will let her voice be heard in a way that time had taken from us.

This film will cover the first 21 years of her life—a time marked by the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war rebuilding of London. Her story is more than a personal reflection; it is a snapshot of history from the perspective of someone who lived it, not as a famous figure but as an ordinary woman whose life was anything but ordinary.

By supporting this project, you are helping preserve not just my mother’s legacy but also a piece of history that deserves to be told. This is more than just a family memoir; it’s a glimpse into the resilience of the human spirit, a reminder of the beauty found in life’s struggles, and a testament to the power of storytelling across generations.

I want to make sure that her voice—and the voices of all those from her generation—are not lost to time. Thank you for helping me bring this dream to life.

Royal Academy: bit.ly/4eUxp9a Brushstroke: bit.ly/481ZoBC