Biscuits with Bruce

Tea time is always an important part of the day here and Wednesday afternoon was especially enjoyable with a surprise visit by Bruce Ingman who arrived in perfect time, fold up bicycle in hand, as the kettle whistled into life.

We find hobnobs of great inspiration, and whilst partaking as such we enjoyed hearing Bruce's lively anecdotes of working with the great Allan Ahlberg on their terrifc new book Pencil. Being no such things as a free tea we swiftly put Bruce to work signing copies of this excellent new publication for our bookshelves here at the gallery. The icing on the cake was Bruce's kind offer to enter some of this superb original artwork in our forthcoming winter show in November! Clearly this calls for the chocolate-covered digestives.

Nuffin-like-a-Puffin

Nuffin Like a Puffin.

Three cheers to The Book People and their re-launch of Puffin Post!

This iconic magazine and the equally enthralling Puffin Club was an exciting feature of my early childhood and I remember the zest and enthusiasm with which their events were regularly held. Nicolette Jones in researching her recent article for the Daily Telegraph kindly informed me that I myself had by a Puffineer prizewinner in younger days.

Last night's reception was inspired, and the re-launch of this worthy magazine at swish Kensington Roof Gardens had all the buzz and pazazz I remembered. Superbly supported, it was great to see a host of top names including Shirley Hughes, Jan Pienkowski and Claudio Munoz in attendance with rising stars like Emily Gravett alongside their generous contributions to the blind auction of artwork. We wish Puffin Post every success!

https://www.puffinpost.co.uk/

Who do they think they are?

What do you like?

Congratulations to the House of Illustration with their new exhibition entitled What Are You Like? at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Inspired by a victorian parlour game many of the best-known illustrators and some interesting celebrities have drawn images expressing themselves and their favourite things. I particularly enjoyed Brunce Ingman's colourful representation and was intrigued to see Eric Clapton's graphic artistic talent.

Hosted by the superbly elegant Dulwich Picture Gallery I would heartily recommend a visit to this fascinating show. How refreshing to see our leading illustrators sitting cheek-by-jowl alongside many of the most stunning old masters of the past five hundred years!

A great paper caper

What a Caper! Oliver Jeffers is clearly a man of some clout. After weeks of sunless skies the unexpected arrival of Oliver through the gallery doors was accompanied by a burst of sunshine across the streets of St James's.

In a flying visit to see family and friends Oliver kindly sat and signed 50 copies of his excellent new book The Great Paper Caper for our bookshelves here, and over chocolated cappucino we enjoyed a rare quiet moment to catch up and make plans. We look forward to his return in December from his new-found home in NYC. We had a nice day.