Jonathan Heale contemporary printmaker and illustrator.

Jonathan Heale (1949–) 

is a British children's book illustrator who works primarily in woodcuts. Heale studied typography and fine art at the Royal College of Art in London. 

In a book I recently acquired I found his amusing Alphabet that I couldn't find in Google and that is too good to be hidden, left unnoticed and not enjoyed. 

Heale has illustrated numerous works for children, including books of fables and fairy tales, such as Angela McAllister’s adaptation The Tortoise and the Hare: An Aesop's Fable (2004) and Adrian Mitchell’s retellings of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier (1996) and The Ugly Duckling (1994). 

He has also illustrated several books by William Mayne, such as Tibber (1986) and Lamb Shenkin (1987). In 1997 he won the Kurt Maschler Award for his detailed woodcut illustrations for Mayne’s Lady Muck.

Around Antwerpen School of Printmaking (V)

Emile Antoine Verpilleux (II).

(1888-1964)
British painter, portraitist,
woodengraver, illustrator and
Modern Printmaker


York Minster (1920)

In the 1913 Studio article it is mentioned when in Antwerp Verpilleux was persuaded switching his painterly ambitions to woodengraving and printmaking. By a Canadian artist "who knew the ropes". Verpilleux was a good painter both in oil and watercolor, and a great portrait painter. He was one of the few artists who could capture a portrait in woodblock print too as I intend showing you later with some great examples) and was to become an important book illustrator. This article in the Studio I think started Verpilleux' career as a printmaker as it was mentioned that when back in London his art was received at first with indifference by the critics and galleries.

Bootham Bar and York Minster, etching by Henri George Walker (1876-1932

In next episode I intend revealing the identity (a 100 years later) of the artist with the great forsight that Studio reporter James Bolivar Manson would not mention by name in his Studio article for reasons I can only guess at.

York Minster (1935) by Fred Taylor (1875-1963), railway poster.


Verpilleux' great York Minster print is available at Paramour Fine Arts in the US. For serious collectors only.   

Amy Holliday

talented award winning young British illustrating artist.

Inkfish by Amy Holliday

Britain has an enviable tradition and history of great illustrating artists. Whether it is designing and illustrating posters, nature books, children’s books or magazines. There’s an almost endless list of wonderful artists. 

Allan William Seaby (1867-1953) (link), famous printmaker but also the illustrator of two wonderful Ladybird British Birds books,

Richard Chopping (1917-2008) (link), illustrator and also a printmaker. 

David Gentleman (1930- ), we took his great books on London, Paris, Italy and Britain with us on our holidays. 

Paul Hogarth (1917-2001), books on international scenery, tourism and literature (showing Graham Greene’s country) and many others.

Kay Nixon (1895- ) (link)

Budgies by Amy Holliday

Still digging and excavating deeper into the world of parrots on prints I stumbled over these great fresh and spontaneous watercolors by a new star artist Amy Holliday. Only a few weeks later to read in her Blog  (link) she’s already won a National Award (link). Hardly a surprise. Who knows, maybe we could lure Amy into printmaking one day.

Gold finch by Amy Holliday.

If I am singing praise about Amy’s illustrating skills and budgies I cannot withhold these examples (below) by another and already established British illustrating artist from Cornwall Alison Fennel.

These two ladies could easily fill up an aviary with colourful and exotic birds  

Visit:

Amy Holliday:    http://society6.com/amyholliday/prints

Alison Fennell:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/eastwitching