NEWS
LIBERTY LONDON
Wildsmith’s Wonderful World is a retrospective collection of designs inspired by the late illustrator and picture book creator, Brian Wildsmith. By combining his imaginative and visually exciting style of storytelling with the Liberty Fabrics Designers’ expertise, the artworks reimagine his portfolio of charming illustrations. From magnificent jungle creatures and flying flocks of birds to playful London scenics and otherworldly outer-space illustrations, we invite you to experience the magic of Wildsmith’s Wonderful World.
BARNSLEY GOES WILD FOR BRIAN WILDSMITH
World-renowned children’s book author and illustrator Brian Wildsmith will be celebrated through a season of exhibitions spanning two of Barnsley Museums fantastic free attractions.
Paws, Claws, Tales & Roars: The Art of Brian Wildsmith at the Cooper Gallery and Coming Home: The Life of Brian Wildsmith at Experience Barnsley Museum, Barnsley South Yorkshire, are two new free exhibitions on display from Saturday, 20 April to Saturday, 4th January 2025.
The shows will be awash with the vibrant palette and limitless imagination that define Brian's beloved books, including his ABC, The Owl and the Woodpecker, Jungle Party, and many more.
The two exhibitions delve into every aspect of Brian's creative journey, spotlighting his masterful draughtsmanship and wildly imaginative use of colour. Both exhibitions have been developed with love and passion in collaboration with the family of Brian Wildsmith and Barnsley Museums. They will be a delight for all ages - from younger visitors to families, designers, artists, and illustrators, to anyone interested in literacy.
This marks the first time, anywhere in the world, that Brian’s personal collection of original illustrations, early works, drawings, paintings, photographs, and memorabilia are being shown together. It offers a never-before-seen glimpse into his artistic brilliance. Whilst Brian later made France his home, it was only fitting that his family choose his birth town of Barnsley as the first to showcase this unprecedented body of work, spanning sixty years of creativity.
In parallel to this event, British design house Liberty Fabrics will be launching a capsule fabric collection, ‘Wildsmith's Wonderful World,’ featuring original illustrations by Brian Wildsmith, reimagined by Liberty. These unique fabrics will be highlighted within the exhibition and products made using the collection will be exclusively on sale from the Gallery shops.
The biggest news of 2023 has got to be the forthcoming publication of Brian Wildsmith’s Animal Kingdom, Paws, Claws, Tails & Roars
Out September 7th
Head over to the home page to read the amazing pre-release reviews from fellow artists and illustrators Jo Empson, Jane Ray, Emily Sutton, James Mathew, Jonathan Emerson, Cathy Fisher and art curator John Huddy.
This 96 page hardback book (305x204mm) with gold page edges really is stunningly beautiful and would make an ideal present to any child, or indeed any wildlife-loving adult. It is a glorious compendium of Brian Wildsmith’s wildlife illustration and can be pre-ordered by clicking below.
PAWS CLAWS TAILS & ROARS IS AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE IN ALL GOOD BOOKSHOPS
APRIL 2022
Brian’s long forgotten masterpiece, his Illustrated Bible Stories, is finally out and it was worth waiting for. It is stunning !
“To be clear, I am claiming that this is the best children’s story Bible ever, at least in terms of art & illustration.” Mark Perkins, Curate at St. Alban’s Anglican Cathedral, Oviedo, Florida. (Source: Twitter)
Some background:
Originally published in 1968 by Watts, New York with stories written by Philip Turner, this 2022 reprint features stories engagingly written by Maryanne O’Donnell.
A cradle Catholic, Wildsmith understood the weighty project of bringing the Bible to life for children in art and story. “In accepting this assignment,” he said, “I realised that I was facing the greatest challenge an artist can have: the Old Testament alone covers over 4000 years of history and a multitude and great variety of characters and motivations. This means that each picture needs to be distinctive creation by itself.”
This was to be Brian’s 12th book after winning the prestigious Kate Greenaway medal for his ground breaking 1962 book ABC. The Bible Stories is a firm family favourite for its stunning and hugely imaginative pen, ink and colour wash illustrations that Andrea Perkins, in her excellent review for Earth & Altar, describes as “a feast for the eyes and the mind” https://www.earthaltar.org/post/brian-wildsmith-s-illustrated-bible-stories Those 101 illustrations that were entirely remastered by Brian Wildsmith’s 57 year old son some 54 years later, many straight from the originals, restoring them to their original splendour.
Wildsmith had equal respect for atheists as for the faithful of all religions. His viewpoint, and one that prevails across his entire 80+ book oeuvre, was that it is only in the tolerance and love of others and of our planet that we may learn to live in a peaceful world. He was more, “Take this and do with it as you will” than “Take this and follow it.” More, “This is my culture and I wish to share it with you.” Timely reminders at a time when the world seems to be turning in on itself through fear and intolerance.
This is a classic for a new generation of children and contains many favourite stories from the Old and New Testaments, including The Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Samson, Moses, David and Goliath, the birth of Jesus, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. This collection truly is a gallery of Biblical art.
USA ORDERS - CLICK HERE
UK ORDER - CLICK HERE
SPRING 2021
Celebrating beautiful spring and the coming of summer
We are delighted to announce the arrival of 8 brand new greetings cards
Featuring some of Brian’s favourite animals
All beautifully produced and designed by ArtPress Publishing in the UK.
Winter 2021
ENFIN UN ALBUM DE BRIAN EN FRANÇAIS.
Pour la première fois depuis Le Noël du Petit Anon en 1996, vos enfants et vous pourront profiter des merveilleuses illustrations de Brian qui accompagnent cette magnifique histoire d’aventures, d’amitié et de tolérance, en FRANÇAIS !
For the first time since A Christmas Story in 1996, you and your children can enjoy Brian’s stunning illustrations of this wonderful story of adventure, friendship and tolerance, and in FRENCH !
If not for you, this will make a great gift for someone you know who is learning the language.
SPRING 2020
Animal Gallery is a sort of best-of, a carefully collected selection, over 46 pages from three amazing books: Wild Animals, Birds & Fishes. 3 titles filled with exuberant and extraordinary paintings of animals. Collective nouns — some familiar, others wonderfully surprising are used to describe each group of animals.
When first published they were received with awe and delight by parents, children, teachers, librarians and the press, receiving unanimously rave reviews as seen in the above collage.
Brian would have been 90 this year, and we see this brand new edition as another fitting tribute to these 3 great books, those marvellous paintings and their author.
Writing about a previous edition of Animal Gallery: