In Stephen King’s novel Duma Key, the artist’s surname is Freemantle.
Edgar Freemantle is the central character of Duma Key. After a construction accident leaves him severely injured, he moves from Minnesota to Florida and begins painting. His artwork appears to possess a disturbing connection to hidden events and supernatural forces associated with the island.
The spelling “Freemantle” is easy to confuse with “Fremantle,” a real place name in Western Australia, or with the ordinary surname “Freeman.” In King’s novel, the character’s surname includes the extra “an” before the final “tle.”
Duma Key was published in 2008. Its narrative combines psychological recovery with supernatural mystery, and the creative act of painting becomes a major mechanism through which the story reveals its past. Edgar’s physical disability and emotional trauma are important parts of his characterization.