 | Angelina Ballerina Helen Craig was born in 1934 in London. She attended evening classes at Central School of Art where she was taught by illustrator Mervyn Peake. She began experimenting with illustration after the birth of her son, finding inspiration in Maurice Sendak's 'Where the Wild Things Are' which she bought for him. She has illustrated over 60 children's books, including ''The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse' shortlisted for the Smarties book award, and the popular Angelina Ballerina books written by Katherine Holabird. They have been translated into over 15 languages, and became a successful animated TV series and an original ballet by the English National Opera. |
 | Edward Ardizzone Edward Ardizzone was born in 1900 in Vietnam, and was brought to England by his mother when he was five. He went to school in Dorset and set up as a freelance artist after inheriting some money from his Italian father. He was also appointed official war artist and travelled to France and the Midle East. He made up stories about ‘Little Tim’ for his three children, inspired by his memories of the sailors at the docks in Ipswich where he spent his childhood. ‘Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain’ was published just before the war, the first of a series which was to win the first Kate Greenaway medal in 1956. These illustrations are limited edition giclee prints from this series of books. |
 | Babar Babar the elephant was created by French author Jean de Brunhoff, based on a story that his wife Cecile made up for their children. Babar first appeared in 1931 in a book called’ L'Histoire de Babar ‘ about a young aristocratic elephant who left his home in the jungle to live in the big city. Jean de Brunhof published six more stories including 'Le Voyage de Babar' and 'Babar et Les Ballons' before his death in 1937 at the age of 37. Jean's work was continued by his son, Laurent de Brunhoff. There is
a set of mini prints (240x300mm) and poster size images (600x800mm). |
 | Betty Bib Betty Bib is the reknowned fairy scholar who has made it her life’s work to promote fairy welfare and protect this highly endangered species. As an ambassador for PUFF (Promoting Understanding of Fairy Folk) she travels the world giving lectures in fairy appreciation. She is the creation of artist Lesley Buckingham, who has published three books about the species, and lives in Sussex with her cat, Purdey, her illustrator husband Brian, and their two teenage daughters. Comparisons with Cicely M. Barker are unfair as her delicate watercolours and embroideries have a unique style of their own. |
 | Quentin Blake Quentin Blake is one of Britain’s most distinguished illustrators. He was head of the illustration department at the Royal College of Art from 1978 to 1986, and was appointed as the first Children’s Laureate in 1999. He has illustrated over 300 books to date, and first collaborated with Roald Dahl on ‘The Enormous
Crocodile’. This series of collector’s editioned prints features illustrations from some of Roald Dahl’s most
popular books and includes a museum board double mount. |
 | Molly Brett Molly Brett was born in Surrey in 1912 and studied art at the Press Art School, followed by the Guildford Art School . She started her career illustrating children’s’ weekly papers and annuals,
including illustrations for books by Enid Blyton. She worked with The Medici Society, producing greetings cards and postcards. She also wrote several children’s books and appeared on many radio and television programmes. She was a member of the Guildford Art Society from 1947 onwards and died in 1990. |
 | Dandy Star Dandy Star was formed by Charlotte Day and Rose Bamford who met while doing their MA's at the Royal College and Chelsea School of Art respectively. Frustrated with the current trends in kids clothing they started printing T shirts for their children in Cornwall where Rose now lives. They also produce these images as silkscreens, which are hand printed onto card in their studio in Cornwall. We have a selection of these bold and stylish silkscreens for sale. |
 | Caroline Gardner Caroline Gardner is one of the most respected independent greeting card and stationery designers in the United Kingdom. Caroline, who trained and initially worked as a painter, started designing cards in the early 1990’s after receiving a commission for a small range from a Tokyo based art gallery. The cards were an instant success and she now works from studios over looking the River Thames in West London. Her uniquely original designs have a loyal following of design-focused people around the world. Her quirky yet sophisticated designs are brought to life using traditional printing techniques, interpreted in a very modern way. |
 | Hello Kitty Hello Kitty was created by Japanese company Sanrio in 1974, and is now a global phenomenon. Her fictional world includes her boyfriend ‘Dear Daniel’ and her twin sister Mimmy. In Japan Hello Kitty is just as popular with young girls and adults alike, and is also popular in America as children’s ambassador for
UNICEF since 1983. These giclee prints follow Kitty from 1974 to the present day and are hand numbered in an edition of 3000 with a certificate of authenticity. |
 | Shirley Hughes Shirley Hughes was born in 1929 and grew up in West Kirby, a quiet seaside town on the Wirral. She spent her wartime childhood drawing, painting and making up stories with her two sisters. She studied at Liverpool Art School followed by the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She finally settled in Notting Hill, London and concentrated on book illustration. She has written and illustrated over 50 books and has won the prestigious Kate Greenaway medal twice, and was awarded an OBE in 1999. These prints were released in 2006 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Alfie, one of Shirley’s best loved characters. |
 | Anita Jeram 'Guess how much I love you' is a charming bedtime story written by Sam McBratney and beautifully illustrated by Anita Jeram. Published in 1994, it was shortlisted for the Kurt Maschler award. A million copies were printed in the first year and it has since become an international best seller and has been
translated into 27 languages. These collectors edition prints are limited to 495 worldwide and are supplied with a bevel cut mount. |
 | Miffy Dick Bruna, born in Utrecht in 1927 is one of the Netherlands most famous artists. He is best known for his character Miffy, a little white rabbit drawn with a simplicity of line and bright flat colour, which he created in 1955. His books have sold more than 85 million copies and have been translated into over 40 languages. This set of six collectors edition prints are presented with a deep bevel cut mount and are limited to 495 worldwide. |
 | Mr Benn Mr Benn was created in 1967 by writer and illustrator David McKee in the book Mr Benn Red Knight. Mr Benn lives a very ordinary life until one day he is invited to a fancy dress party. He enters a shop and “as if by magic ... a shopkeeper appeared.” He tries on a suit of armour and walks out of the changing room into medieval times, the first of many adventures. The BBC commisioned 13x15 minute episodes narrated by Ray Brooks, in which Mr Benn enters the magic costume shop and becomes a spaceman, a hunter, a clown and a cowboy to name but a few. |
 | Mr Men bookplates A set of giclee prints limited to only 200 worldwide, taken from the original artwork used in the making of the books. The images were chosen by Adam Hargreaves, the son of Roger Hargreaves, who has continued his father’s work. |
 | Mr Men and Little Miss These charming hand painted etchings are taken from the first series of editioned prints released by the Hargreaves family .The series consists of 12 Mr Men and 12 Little Miss prints, published in 2006 in an edition of 500 worldwide. They are displayed in a museum board bevel cut window mount to 200mm x 250mm. |
 | Beatrix Potter Beatrix Potter was born in London in 1866. As a child she was educated at home with her brother Bertram, and enjoyed studying and sketching her pet animals. Her career as a children's illustrator began in 1902 when she published her first book, 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'. She went on to produce around 2 books a year until 1910. The money she earned from her 'little books' as she called them, enabled her to buy land and property in the Lake District. In 1913 she married and moved into Hill Top Farm where her writing and painting took second place to farming. She died in 1943, leaving around 4000 acres of land to the nation. |
Miscellaneous |