The 19th Annual Winter Illustration Festival: 19 November 2014 - 31 January 2015

The 19th Annual Winter Illustration Exhibition embraces everything exciting and innovative about illustration art and is regarded as one of the key events worldwide for illustration.

Private view and Illustrationcupboard Books launch 
Wednesday 19 November, 4.00pm - 8.30pm 

We are proud to announce the launch of Illustrationcupboard Books with the publication of George Butler: Adventurer and Illustrator. This signed and numbered edition of 500 builds upon the success of George’s solo exhibition, and are available exclusively from the gallery and our website. The gallery and online bookshop features a further range of signed and first edition books for sale at cover price. There is also a selection of hand-made and short-run books from around the world. 

Festival celebration, George Butler, Pen, ink and watercolour 

James Bond

From the estate of John McLusky, the original graphic artist for James Bond, we present a collection of original drawings. On show will be the exhilarating skiing sequences published in On her Majesty’s Secret Service, featured in The Daily Express, in the late 1950s.

Magnesium flares! John McLusky, pen and ink 

Winter Festival Days

We present two family days of festive fun, refreshments, music and guest illustrators.

Saturday 29th November, 11am - 5pm

We welcome Chris Riddell to sign Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death at 11am and Judith Kerr at 3pm to sign The Crocodile Under The Bed.

Saturday 6th December, 11am - 5pm

We welcome Lauren Child at 1pm to sign The New Small Person and Shirley Hughes with Clara Vulliamy at 3pm to sign Dixie O’Day and others.

Judith Kerr signing books in the gallery

Entrance to events is free, no booking is required.

Open Monday - Friday 9:30am - 6:00pm

Saturdays 11:00am - 5:00pm

Illustrationcupboard Gallery

22 Bury Street

St. James's 

London

SW1Y 6AL

+44(0)207 976 1727

gallery@illustrationcupboard.com

30 Years of Willy the Wimp by Anthony Browne

This September we celebrate 30 years of Anthony Browne's most beloved character Willy the Wimp. We are thrilled to be exhibiting original watercolour Willy the Wimp artwork here in the gallery alongside other fantastic original artwork including the original front cover artwork for the renowned Gorilla. (Pictured below) The exhibition continues until the 20th of September 2014, and will then go on to be a highlight in our Winter Show in November.

Original watercolour front cover artwork for Gorilla, published by Julia MacRae Books, 1983

We celebrated this anniversary with Anthony's publishers Walker Books who produced this fantastic interview with him:



We have a selection of signed books available to purchase including the newly published Willy's Pictures, £12.99.

Original watercolour artwork for the yet to be published 

Willy and the Cloud

The Art of War Horse featuring Rae Smith

The Art of War Horse featuring Rae Smith

1 - 30 August 2014

Rae Smith, Cavalry Charge II, Pencil and charcoal on paper, 240 x 550mm, War Horse, written by Michael Morpurgo, published by Egmont Publishing, 2013

 Illustrationcupboard Gallery is proud to commemorate the centenary of World War I with a unique exhibition celebrating the dramatisation of Michael Morpurgo’s book War Horse. First published in 1982,  this wartime tale has become an international phenomenon. The National Theatre’s adaptation of the novel, which premiered in 2007, has now been seen by over 5 million people worldwide, with productions currently running in the West End, on tour in the UK (now at the Lowry in Salford), in Japan, Berlin and Amsterdam.

Theatre designer Rae Smith won both the US Tony Award and the British Olivier Award for the show. We are proud to be showing Rae’s original theatre, costume and scenic artwork – all of which were displayed on stage at the National Theatre. On show will be a selection of equine drawings of the horse puppets so vividly created by Handspring Puppet Company, as well as powerful Vorticist-inspired depictions of battle-torn France.

Rae Smith, Joey in No Man's Land, Pencil and charcoal on paper, 300 x 1130mm. Original theatre artwork for War Horse displayed on stage at The National Theatre

The distinguished artist Victor Ambrus was commissioned to produce the front cover of the first edition of War Horse in 1982. Victor will be showing artwork especially produced for this anniversary. We will also be showing artwork by Olivia Lomenech Gill, whose previous collaboration with Michael Morpurgo on Where My Wellies Take Me has been short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Award 2014. Olivia will be showing a selection of her War Horse inspired artwork, the highlight of which is the impressive Standing To, especially commissioned by Michael Morpurgo for the concert War Horse: Only Remembered.

Without doubt this is an extraordinary collection, which we are thrilled to be exhibiting. We draw attention for all collectors to the unique nature and opportunity offered, with all artwork being made available for purchase. A limited number of signed first editions of the new book will also be on sale.

The Art of War Horse, evening reception with Rae Smith and Michael Morpurgo

6 August 2014

More photographs can be viewed on our flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/illustrationcupboard/sets/72157645864266600/

A celebration: 25 Years of David McKee's Elmer the Patchwork Elephant published by Andersen Press

We had a tremendous opening night for David McKee's Elmer exhibition with Klaus Flugge, David's close friend and publisher of Andersen Press. The exhibition continues until the 7th of June, 2014. Original published artwork and signed books can also be viewed and purchased online: http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/exhibition_illustrations.aspx?ePage=0&eid=228

Photography by Siyu Chen

Panoramic photographs of Illustrationcupboard

 The gallery is looking particularly full of the joys of Spring with our Niamh Sharkey Laureate na nOg and Illustrators Ireland exhibition which continues until the 10th of May 2014.

Upstairs you will find our permanent collection of artwork which is regularly rotated. This week we are exhibiting original artwork from Tales from the Arabian Nights by Brian Wildsmith, The Wind in the Willows by Inga Moore and pen and ink drawings by Tejubehan from Drawing from the City, published by the fantastic Tara Books of India, amongst a whole other plethora of delights.

With thanks to Shelby Cartwright for the panoramic photographs.

David McKee signs and illustrates in Mr Benn books

David McKee popped by the gallery yesterday and very kindly signed and illustrated in a batch of Mr Benn books. Big-Top Benn and Mr Benn-Red Knight are hardback and only £8.99 each. Roll up, roll up! Original artwork, including original Mr Benn cels can be found on David's page : http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/artist.aspx?aId=119&page=0

Judith Kerr and Shirley Hughes on why they won't retire, BBC Interview at Gallery

Shirley Hughes and Judith Kerr

Photograph taken by Siyu Chen at Illustrationcupboard Gallery


Judith Kerr and Shirley Hughes were recently interviewed by the BBC at the gallery on 'why they won't retire'. The short film can found on the BBC's website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25461413

Judith was also filmed by the BBC last year in Imagine's Hitler, The Tiger and Me. With Alan Yentob, she revisits Berlin and takes tea in the London kitchen to which that tiger came. It can be found on BBC's IPlayer.

We were delighted to be able to celebrate both Judith's 90th birthday and Shirley's Alfie exhibition in 2013 at Illustrationcupboard Gallery. A limited silk screen edition, of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, was created with Judith to celebrate her birthday. 

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

£495

480 x 320mm

Limited silk screen edition, unique to the gallery and not available anywhere else in the world.

Edition of 75 only. Signed and numbered by Judith Kerr.

The edition can be mounted, framed and glazed for £595. Please contact the gallery directly for this on +44(0)207 976 1727.

Original artwork by Shirley Hughes can be viewed at the gallery at anytime and also on Shirley's artist's page online: http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/artist.aspx?aId=62&page=0

Alfie Outdoors

Pencil, crayon, watercolour, caran d'Ache

£3450

Drawing from the City by Tejubehan, published by Tara Books, India

As the 18th Annual Winter Exhibition continues (until the end of January 2014), we are able to revisit the exhibitions of 2013, and enjoy the artworks again.

In October of 2013, we were privileged to exhibit the work of Tejubehan, the Indian artist behind Drawing from the City, published by Tara Books. Tara Books is an independent publisher of picture books for adults and children based in Chennai, Southern India. Founded in 1994, Tara Books remains a collective of dedicated writers, designers and artists who strive for a union of fine form and impressive content. Fiercely independent, Tara Books publish a select list of titles which encompasses many genres.

Drawing from the City is exquisitely drawn and a spectacular example of contemporary art. Teju's hypnotic faces, striking skylines and landscapes tell the tale of her incredible journey from appalling poverty to the rich, inner realms of art. Teju, a self-taught artist, creates drawings which are at once innocent and complex, gripping the onlooker with her mesmerising combination of lines and dots.


Tejubehan has very kindly signed a selection of the handmade, silkscreen printed books of Drawing from the City, available at the cover price of £22.99. Call us on +44(0)207 976 1727 to order, or email gallery@illustrationcupboard.com

Visit the gallery to view the original published pen and ink drawings and view them online also: http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/exhibition_illustrations.aspx?ePage=0&eid=215

I watch big graceful birds that move silently through the sky

Pen and ink on paper, 350 x 530mm, £2450

Top image: 

Should they fly forever like birds?

Pen and ink on paper, 350 x 530mm, £2450

Window display for Tara Books exhibition, October 2013

Gita Wolf (founder of Tara Books) signing Gobble You Up! Written by Gita Wolf, illustrated by Sunita

Drawing from the City, signed by Tejubehan, £22.99

About Tejubehan, and her husband Ganesh, published in Drawing from the City

'Born in Rajasthan and to music, Ganesh - and Teju - belonged to a community that wandered the streets, singing devotional songs. In return, the singers were given grain, clothes and some money. Like many old caste-based practices, this one has also lingered on in a fashion, but is no longer a viable occupation. Ganesh Jogi, like others in his community, had to make other livelihood choices. For a while, he did whatever work came his way, but some years proved harsher than others. His fortune changed when he met the remarkable artist Haku Shah in Ahmedabad, who encouraged him to draw. In his generous and unusual way, Ganesh then nurtured Teju's talent, disregarding what was considered approproaite for women in the community to do.

In Drawing from the City, Teju draws the story of her journey as an artist, which was so closely intertwined with that of Ganesh. It is at once a celebration and a tribute to his memory, to the art that this gentle and loving couple practised together. We hope that the book will stay with Teju, as a reminder od what she may yet do. '

Here is a youtube video of Teju and Ganesh singing together:

Shout, Whisper & Sing

Shout, Whisper & Sing - We are open again, Happy New Year!

Shout, Whisper & Sing 

Front cover artwork by Victor Ambrus for Shout, Whisper & Sing

Published by The Bodley Head, 1989

£1850

We have an fantastic range of illustrations by the incredible Victor Ambrus, more of which can be viewed here

All artwork is available to purchase and can be viewed at the gallery any time. We are open 9.30am - 6.00pm, weekdays and 11.00am - 5.00pm Saturdays. We look forward to seeing you.