We were delighted to celebrate the artwork of Brian Wildsmith last month in the exhibition Brian Wildsmith's Dazzling World of Illustration, 10 June - 1 July 2015. It was wonderful to be joined for the opening reception by Rebecca Wildsmith, one of Brian's daughters.
Information about the exhibition and photographs of the artwork below and on our website:
As Brian Wildsmith celebrated his 85th birthday earlier this year Illustrationcupboard Gallery takes the opportunity to celebrate one of the greatest and most influential illustrators of the modern era.
Presenting a unique display of previously un-exhibited original artwork reflecting his more than fifty years as a world-class author and illustrator. This impressive exhibition will feature thirty original paintings, all available for purchase. Artwork from his studio in France from fourteen different books will be on show, with highlights including double page spreads from The Little Wood Duck and The Owl and Woodpecker – two of his best known illustrated books. With much of his work now held in a museum, little remains available for the collector to obtain and this event provides a rare opportunity to do so. Prices for artwork will start at £450 as well as a selection of Brian’s signed books on sale too, entrance to the exhibition is free. In 1962, Brian Wildsmith’s ABC broke the mould of picture books with its passionate and powerful use of colour, and the following year it won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. Since then Brian's books have continued to enchant and delight children and adults throughout the world with a dazzling visual array of design and colour. Brian Wildsmith was born in 1930 and brought up in the mining village of Penistone, near Sheffield. He was gifted in music and art, and won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art. With a life-time of painting and illustration production Brian has created a truly impressive oeuvre of work, yet despite world-wide popularity it has often been difficult to view this and until recently it has only been seen by visiting the Brian Wildsmith Museum of Art near Tokyo - his last travelling exhibition in Japan attracted over 1.5 million visitors. However, Brian’s first UK exhibition here at Illustrationcupboard Gallery in 2010 was a major public success. We are therefore wholly delighted to re-visit Brian’s magical world with a second such event this summer.
Original published artwork from various books including The Owl and The Woodpecker, Hunter and his Dog, The Little Wood Duck, Pelican amongst others
We also have a selection of first edition signed books by Brian, which can be found online and in our gallery.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the celebration. More of Brian's work, including original artwork from Tales from the Arabian Nights will be included in our upcoming Summer Exhibition, 15 July - 1 August 2015.
