Over the last two years we’ve got used to living with restrictions. We have got used to not going to concerts, museums, galleries..

Not enjoying art in any form, publicly, became normal.

I was so pleased when I got an invitation from The Vanner Gallery to participate in their exhibition.

Imagine: Illustrating Stories  is an exhibition of original artwork by many well-known illustrators.

Anybody who likes picture books, has children, or is interested in children’s book illustration will recognise these names:

Eric Carle, Raymond Briggs, Lauren Child, Shirley Hughes, Oliver Jeffers, Anita Jeram,

David McKee,

Jill Murphy, Helen Oxenbury, Axel Scheffler, Shaun Tan, Benedict Blathwayt, Anthony Browne, Robert Ingpen, Simon James, Anita Jeram, John Lawrence, Alice Lickens, Debra McFarlane, Jill Murphy, Neil Packer, Frann Preston, Korky Paul, Kristina Stephenson, Charlotte Voake.

These are two of my exhibited pictures.

Looking at and appreciating these beautiful illustrations in a book is one thing. Seeing the original artwork and understanding the artistic techniques, seeing the true colours and textures, it shifts your experience onto a different level.

I admired the detailed work of  Jill Murphy. Her illustrations are done with the finest and sharpest coloured pencils you can imagine. 

There are beautiful illustrations by Anthony Browne, David McKee and of course one of my favourite illustrators Eric Carl who was a master of drawing with a scalpel. Only seeing Eric Carle’s originals makes one fully understand what a great artist he was.

The exhibition is open until 9th April 2022, so if you can make it to Salisbury, don’t miss it!

Let the visiting of music venues, theatres, museums and galleries become a big part of our lives once again.