20 Years of Guess How Much I Love You

Anita Jeram is a British institution, known for her ability to capture the anthropomorphic nature of the farmyard and fluffy, that entices the whole family.

We are thrilled to host Anita Jeram celebrates 20 years of Guess How Much I Love You, from 5 August – 5 September 2015.  Anita has released the last remaining artwork from her archive to celebrate 20 years of this world-famous book.

The exhibition is now in its final week, and judging by the numbers of visitors the IllustrationCupboard has received during that time, Guess How Much I Love You has an allure that is still as strong today as it was when Jeram first penned the two Nutbrown Hares 20 years ago.  Thank you to all those who have visited the gallery for the exhibition, and tweeted and called with interest.

It’s amazing how the relationship of two hares can be shown so clearly through the uncluttered drawings that Jeram presents in her books.  The preliminary drawings with their flowing black lines are as striking as the full colour originals that fill the pages of the Guess How Much I Love You books, show off Jeram’s skill with watercolours.

Jeram has also been flexing her talents in new and exciting ways, and we are proud to be able to showcase a number of rabbit, hare and bunny explorations that see Jeram using different techniques such as monoprint:

embroidery:

and even turned her hand at silk painting, as demonstrated by this beautiful handmade silk scarf:

All of which give a different feel and demonstrate the breadth of her artistic skills.  

There is no doubt that her collaboration with writer Sam McBratney is a fruitful one that we hope will continue for many years to come.  Thank you Anita for sharing How Much I Love You with us!

Brian Wildsmith's Dazzling World of Illustration

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. 

Chris Riddell - UK Children's Laureate

Chris Riddell hosting children's illustration competition at Ireland's Story Fesitival in April

We are, as ever, delighted to represent Chris Riddell and his new title as UK Children's Laureate 2015 - 17. We have signed books and original artwork by Chris Riddell which can be viewed online (http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/artist.aspx?aId=194&page=0) and here in the gallery (22 Bury Street, St. James's, London, SW1Y 6AL) 

In June, Chris told The Guardian newspaper “I want to bring drawing back to the basics, make it about the pleasure that it can afford and remove the notion that it’s some kind of precious or difficult activity. It’s another way of telling a story.”

Here are selection of Chris's brilliant artworks published in Coraline, written by Neil Gaiman and published by Bloomsbury 2012.

 

10th Anniversary edition slipcase book Coraline signed by Chris Riddell and Neil Gaiman, £25

We also celebrate Chris Riddell as a political cartoonist and have some brilliant original pen and ink drawings which have been published in The Observer newspaper. 

Congratulations Chris! 

Oliver Jeffers popped by to say hello (and sign a lot of books)

As the Celebrating Ten Years of Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers exhibition comes to a close (ending 6 June 2015, there's still time to see it!) we thank all those who have visited and Oliver himself for coming over from the USA. We had a brilliant evening to celebrate the show with Oliver. We still have some signed books available to purchase, all at cover price, including our favourite Lost and Found (£12.99). We also have the Lost and Found anniversary silk screen edition on sale alongside some bespoke original artwork in honour of the Lost and Found anniversary, especially created by Oliver for the exhibition. (all of which can be viewed: www.illustrationcupboard.com)

Oliver signing a book for no less than Axel Scheffler!

Celebrating Ten Years of Lost and Found

6 May - 6 June 2015

Oliver Jeffers and Illustrationcupboard Gallery are delighted to present an exhibition of original artwork celebrating ten years of Lost and Found (HarperCollins, 2005). As one of the leading contemporary illustrators working today, Oliver Jeffers needs little introduction and his best selling picture books have become a world wide sensation. Lost and Found has won over fifty awards including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, 2006, and as the second book in its series it has enchanted millions as well as being turned into a BAFTA Award winning short animated film. 

This month long exhibition will show a selection of the superb published Lost and Found artwork, with a further seven works, especially created for this event, offered for purchase. Based on the original books, these full colour paintings and line drawings provide the collector with a rare opportunity to acquire original artwork, a majority of which Oliver now produces digitally. 

We also present the Lost and Found Anniversary Silkscreen, this short-run edition created by Oliver and hand-printed by Coriander Press is unique to the gallery and limited to only 99, each of which is signed and numbered by the artist. Signed books will also be available to purchase at the gallery and our online bookshop.

Lost and Found anniversary silk screen, edition of 99 only, signed and numbered by Oliver Jeffers

£575

Thank you Oliver, it has been book-eatingly good!

Lismore's very first Story Festival: Towers and Tales

The very first Lismore Story Festival Towers and Tales took place on Saturday 18 April and we were thrilled to be involved. John Huddy, director of Illustrationcupboard Gallery was there from the very beginning when the story festival seed was first planted with Niamh Sharkey (former Irish Children's Laureate) and William Burlington, owner of Lismore Castle, where the festival was held.

The festival was born out of Niamh's wish that all children in Ireland should be gifted a book, an initiative that is already successfully delivered in over thirty countries worldwide. With thanks to Children's Books Ireland, all young visitors  to the festival who bought a ticket to one of the events received a free book!

Niamh Sharkey (above) Monster Doodle!

The sun was shining and Lismore Castle was overflowing with illustrators, authors, families and even the Gruffalo! We were stunned by the enormous response to the festival and absolutely thrilled that children and adults alike were just as passionate about books as we are.

Illustrationcupboard Gallery hosted a bespoke exhibition, Meet the Residents, in the Summerhouse Cafe. The exhibition included original artwork by (to name a few) Victor Ambrus, Simon Bartram, Babette Cole, Lauren Child, Shirley Hughes, John Lawrence. It was complemented by an illustration competition, Draw Your Own Lismore Resident, judged by the fantastic Chris Riddell.

Artwork (from right) Shirley Hughes, John Lawrence, Victor Ambrus, Lauren Child

 

Chris Riddell and a selection of children's illustrations

The winner and his family, (above), residents of Lismore. 

Other events included a panel discussion with Philip Ardagh on Writing for Children: How to Get Published,  Chris Riddell lead two events, one for children Introducing Ada Goth & Miss Ottoline Brown and a must for professionals and aspiring illustrators & cartoonists Chris Riddell's Workshop especially for adults, there was a hat making tea party with Sarah McIntyre and other such wonders including a hot chocolate factory, pop up stories, croquet with the Queen of Hearts, animations screenings and face painting!

Sarah McIntyre illustrating the library bus

Shed Press Publications (founder Jessica Jane Charleston of Illustrationcupboard) leading letterpress printing & book binding workshops in the Stableyard alongside the Inspiration station

Tea time with Philip Ardagh and eager festival goers

All in all it was an overwhelming success! Congratulations Towers and Tales team! 

Can't wait for next year ... 

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