Seven Stories - Rhyme Around the World Exhibition

My work in the Rhyme Around the World Exhibition

Seven Stories has relaunched this summer after undergoing a huge refurbishment to celebrate their 10 year anniversary.

I'm extremely excited to have my illustration from the Over the Hills and Far Away - A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes from Around the World  (Seven Stories and Frances Lincoln, 2014) in the brand new exhibition, Rhyme Around the World. This fabulous exhibit invites families to step into their favourite and nursery rhymes and discover new ones that are shared across the world.

In this multi-sensory show, there is the opportunity to explore the original artwork commissioned by Seven Stories for the Over the Hills book, collected by Seven Stories co-founder, Elizabeth Hammill.

Story-time in the Attic space

My sister Robyn reading her favourite children's book

Exploration in the newly designed book shop

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at Seven Stories

Meeting HRH the Duchess of Cornwall

HRH signing the Seven Stories guest book

On Wednesday 28th January I was honoured to receive an invitation to attend a visit by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall to Seven Stories, National Centre for Children's Books. The Duchess is a passionate supporter of initiatives and organisations that promote literacy and the enjoyment of books and reading, so Seven Stories was the perfect place to have included in a visit to Newcastle.

The Duchess enjoyed a tour of the building and we then had the opportunity to meet her over a cup of tea in the bookshop. She signed the Seven Stories guest book and was presented with a specially signed copy of 'Over the Hills and Far Away' by Elizabeth Hammill, which she said she would enjoy reading to her grandchildren.

This visit marked the start of an important year for Seven Stories, who are celebrating their 10th birthday in the summer. Keep your eyes peeled for many exciting events to follow this year, starting with a refurbishment of the building in the spring.

Photographs courtesy of © Damien Wootten Photography.

Over the Hills and Far Away Competition

I am very happy to announce that I have just WON the Seven Stories and Frances Lincoln national illustration competition, 'Over the Hills and Far Away.' My artwork will be included in a new nursery rhyme collection to be published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books in the Autumn of 2014.

This anthology is a fresh and inclusive collection of nursery rhymes that has be gathered together from cultures across the English speaking world. Children and families will be introduced to the many diverse voices that speak to the very young in verse - offering readers new sounds, new sights and new ways with words.

The double page spread that I chose to illustrate was an African American and a Maori lullaby. Elizabeth Hammill (Co-founder of Seven Stories) stated that my artwork 'subtly and distinctively wove the two verses together by capturing a night that, like the father's embrace, is immersive and comforting and a place for imaginings of the possibilities that the galloping horses offer. There is a tenderness too in the father/baby relationship that is true and moving. The father/child are both specific to these rhymes but absolutely universal too.'

The collection will also include some 70 illustrators from across the English speaking world including: Michael Foreman, Robert Ingpen, Shirley Hughes, Jane Ray, Bob Graham,
Nick Sharett, Eric Carle, Axel Scheffler, Shaun Tan, Emily Gravett, Catherine Rayner,
Polly Dunbar, Sara Ogilvie, Jessica Ahlberg, Mini Grey, Yasmeen Ismail, Joel Stewart,
John Lawrence and Kevin Waldron.

Seven Stories

I have recently had a trip to the wonderful Seven Stories in Newcastle. This is a very exciting time for them, as the have recently become the National Centre for Children's Books. The current exhibitions are 'A Viking's Guide to Deadly Dragons with Cressida Cowell' and 'A Squash and a Squeeze with Julia Donaldson'. Make sure you get yourself there!!

Here are a couple of photos from their amazing book shop with a few of our favourite titles!