Quentin Blake, Emma Chichester Clark, Helen Oxenbury, Oliver Jeffers & Chris Riddell have created beautiful new covers for the books which are sure to be a truly exciting addition to your bookshelves. A percentage of royalties from these perennial bestsellers will support the House of Illustration and they will be available in shops from 3^rd May.

This Thursday evening we will be unveiling the original artwork and launching a silent auction of the signed illustrations with all proceeds going to support House of Illustration.

There will be a chance to view the artwork at The Illustration Cupboard in central London from 20^th – 30^th April where bidding will continue on the works. If you want to acquire one of these rare collectors’ pieces & would like to make a bid please contact alice.lickens@houseofillustration.org.uk

With workshops run by the wonderful Karrie Fransman, Stuart Kolakovich, Isabel Greenberg, Zombie Collective, Clarice Holt & Mary Pullen participants had the chance to life draw medieval characters, make their own illuminated letter, emboss a votive, create their own medieval stamped beast, mix pigments and help contribute to a giant illuminated manuscript. With over 700 people attending it was an exciting & busy night!

Kicking off the evening with a bang was a panel discussion with Quentin Blake, Posy Simmonds, Jamie Hewlett & Martin Rowson presenting their favourite illustrations. The library also played host to a one-night-only pop up illustration exhibition showcasing some of the brightest talent around today including Jon Burgerman, James Jarvis, Alice Melvin and Martin Rowson. This was on top of a night long DJ set from Mr Scruff and free entry to the beautiful ‘Royal Manuscripts’ exhibition.

You can check out some photos from the night on our facebook page and The British Library’s ILLUMINATE! film http://vimeo.com/37851355

With workshops run by the wonderful Karrie Fransman, Stuart Kolakovich, Isabel Greenberg, Zombie Collective, Clarice Holt & Mary Pullen participants had the chance to life draw medieval characters, make their own illuminated letter, emboss a votive, create their own medieval stamped beast, mix pigments and help contribute to a giant illuminated manuscript. With over 700 people attending it was an exciting & busy night!

Kicking off the evening with a bang was a panel discussion with Quentin Blake, Posy Simmonds, Jamie Hewlett & Martin Rowson presenting their favourite illustrations. The library also played host to a one-night-only pop up illustration exhibition showcasing some of the brightest talent around today including Jon Burgerman, James Jarvis, Alice Melvin and Martin Rowson. This was on top of a night long DJ set from Mr Scruff and free entry to the beautiful ‘Royal Manuscripts’ exhibition.

You can check out some photos from the night on our facebook page and The British Library’s ILLUMINATE! film http://vimeo.com/37851355

The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

We are delighted to be working with The British Library to put together an exciting night at one of the UK’s finest venues.

Join us on Friday March 2nd at the late night ‘ILLUMINATE!’ and  take part in one of our six illustration workshops, see the world’s largest comic, enjoy a pop up exhibition, watch a special screening of Oscar nominated animation feature ‘The Secret of Kells’, enjoy an after hours visit to ‘Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination’, indulge in a drink at the bar and catch a DJ set from Mr Scruff.

ILLUMINATE!: A Celebration of Illustration
7pm – 10.30pm
Throughout the evening we will be running a series of illustration workshops where you have the chance to make your own comic, medieval character, mix pigments and get to grips with typography.

House of Illustration workshops:
7pm – 9.30pm
3D Medieval Life Drawing: Prepare to capture the hidden stories of the illuminated manuscripts with graphic novelist Karrie Fransman (The Guardian, The Times, Random House) and her Medieval Life Drawing class. Grab pencils and paper and weave the poses of knights, monks and angels into narratives fit for a king!

Bestiarum Vocabulum: Beasts, both real and fantastic, swarm, creep, and scramble across the pages of manuscripts made in the Middle Ages. Using giant dissected rubber stamps construct your own mythological creature from a host of weird and bizarre body parts with cult illustrator Stuart Kolakovich.

Myths of Early Earth: Winner of The Jonathan Cape Graphic Short Story Prize and soon to publish her first graphic novel, Isabel Greenberg will be running this workshop that demonstrates both digital and traditional illustration methods.

Book of Hours Letters: Renowned illustrator and educator Mary Pullen invites you to create your own illuminated letter drawing inspiration from traditional calligraphy, contemporary typography and the Royal Manuscripts on display.

Would You Paint A Pauper Purple?: Join illustrator & restorer Clarice Holt to discover which colours meant what in the world of Medieval illustration. Learn why a noblewoman wouldn’t be caught dead in brown whilst for the average peasant, ultramarine was just a dream. Mix egg tempera paints in an array of stunning Medieval hues, and help us recreate a giant Medieval illustration in glorious technicolour!

Typography Tales: Join five strong illustration group ZOMBIE Collective for a workshop of oversized proportions and help to create a  giant illuminated manuscript with typographic collage from Blackletter to Helvetica.

Alongside these fantastic events the British Library are putting on a pop up exhibition showcasing work from James Jarvis, John Burgerman, Alice Melvin, Martin Rowson and a host of the finest illustrators working today.

There is free entry to ‘Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination’ all night providing a chance to enjoy the sumptuous art of the medieval world after hours.

Tickets are £7.50 / £5 concession and available to purchase from http://www.bl.uk/whatson/events/event128383.html

Tickets are selling fast so book now!

8^th December – 1^st February

Collyer Bristow Gallery

4 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4DF

Our touring exhibition ‘What Are You Like’ is currently open at London law firm Collyer Bristow.

Based on a Victorian parlour game the show has work from 45 illustrators and people in the public eye who created a self revealing artwork from a list of their favourite things and one pet aversion.

Limited edition prints from the show are available for purchase from our online store http://www.houseofillustration.org.uk/shop/

‘What Are You Like’ is open weekdays by appointment. Please call +44 020 7242 7363 if you would like to arrange a visit or email gallery@collyerbristow.com for further details.

Now Showing: Quentin Blake: As Large As Life

12^th January – 15^th April

The Foundling Museum

40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N  1AZ

A chance to see over 60 large scale works from one of the UK’s most beloved illustrators. This exhibition focuses on four series of public work by Quentin Blake made for a children’s hospital, a maternity hospital, young people with eating disorders and older patients with mental health issues.

The Foundling Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm & on Sundays 11am – 5pm. Admission is £7.50 & £5.00 concession. Please see http://bit.ly/rIZgeT for further details.

Picture This! Illustrating Children’s Books

26^th November 2011 – 11^th March 2012

Gallery Oldham

Oldham Cultural Centre, Greaves Street, Oldham OL1  1AL

A family friendly exhibition featuring works from household names Shirley Hughes, Anthony Browne, Jez Alborough and Helen Stephens are displayed alongside new work from emerging illustrators. Sketchbooks and working drawings are also on show and there is a free family event on Saturday 28^th January.

Gallery Oldham is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm & on Sundays 10am – 4 pm. Admission is free. Please see http://bit.ly/uJnJaG for further details.

In Numbers: Serial Publications by Artists Since 1955

25^th January – 25^th March

Institute of Contemporary Arts

The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH

This ICA exhibition hosts a wide collection of artist self published work including small press, postal or correspondence art and zines from 1955 to the present day. From magazines to postcards the show promises a look at young artists working on the periphery of the mainstream as well as lesser known objects from established artists.

The ICA is open Wednesday – Sunday 12pm – 7pm with a late night till 9pm on Thursdays. Admission is free. Please see http://bit.ly/tBENUr for further details.

Cut & Run

5^th – 28^th January

Kemistry Gallery

43 Charlotte Road,  Shoreditch, London EC2A 3PD

Kemistry Gallery has put on a group exhibition from young Brit illustrators Jack Teagle, Matthew Bromley, Ryan Chapman and Matthew Dent. The show of original works brings together their bold styles to take a look at adventure, hunting and the afterlife.

Kemistry Gallery is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm. Admission is free. Please see http://bit.ly/6WRgU for further details.

David Shrigley: Brain Activity

1^st February – 13^th May

Hayward Gallery

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

Best known for his wry illustration this is Shrigley’s first majorLondonexhibition. Spanning his diverse practice of drawing, photography, books, sculpture, animation, painting and music the show offers a look at the absurdities of human relationships through his unique and deliberate crude graphic style.

Don’t forget we have a limited number of David Shrigley’s ‘What Are You Like?’ prints available in our shop http://www.houseofillustration.org.uk/shop/

The Hayward Gallery is open daily 10am – 6pm and til 8pm on Thursday and Friday. Admission is £4.50 – £8.00. Please see the Hayward Gallery for further details.

We want to showcase and celebrate the best contemporary illustration and are looking for forty images to be part of a winter slideshow.

What we need from you:

• Up to five JPEG landscape images measuring 1024 X 768 pixels
• Images to be formatted to RGB
• Artwork uploaded to the House of Illustration’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/groups/illustratethedesignmuseum/

Deadline & Selection:

• Deadline: midnight 1^st December
• Selection: 2^nd December
• Successful entrants will be notified on the 2^nd December
• Successful entrants will be added to a special guest list for ‘Sparkle The Dark Up’ that night to see their work in person.

Please don’t forget the deadline is midnight on December 1^st which is next Thursday so get cracking!

This giclee print is in an edition of 100 and priced at £250 including VAT, plus postage and packing. The print is A3+ size (329mm x 483mm). The prints will be on 100% cotton Somerset Satin 300g paper with a torn edge and are supplied signed and embossed, un-mounted and un-framed, in cardboard tubes.

All money raised from the sale of these prints will go towards supporting the work of the House of Illustration; our schools programme, nurturing new talent through competitions, our exhibitions and talks and events.

The Challenge takes place from Monday 5th to Friday 9th December. Our overall target for the week is to raise £50,000, but we have already had some generous donations and are now raising the final £16,900.

We would love you to support us. Please click here to make your donation. Match funding will be available from 10am on Monday 5th December.

You will be helping us champion illustration and will help pave the way to opening our doors in 2013. Thank you for your support.

Some key facts about giving during The Big Give Challenge week:

• All the money will go towards supporting the work of the House of Illustration; our schools education programme, nurturing new talent through competitions, our exhibitions and talks and events.
• Until we reach our target, every pound your donor gives will be matched by up to a pound from the match funding pot.
• The maximum individual donation that is eligible for match funding is £5,000.
• If a higher rate taxpayer donates £100, they can reclaim the tax on their donation (a 40% taxpayer can reclaim £25, a 50% taxpayer can reclaim £37.50), therefore the cost to them would be £75 or £62.50 respectively.
• When you go online to give, you will be asked if your donation is eligible for Gift Aid; the total Gift Aid amount will be calculated at the end of the challenge and added on after the end of the week.
• The Big Give releases a new pot of match funding every day at 10am. Therefore donors should make their donation as near to 10am as possible. The majority of match funding will be released on Monday and Tuesday so it is best to make donations on those days to maximise the chances of accessing the match funding pot.
• Corporate donations can be accepted as long as they are made online with a credit or debit card.
• Unfortunately donations made by cheque to the House of Illustration cannot be added to the online total.

Hunterian Museum
The Royal College of Surgeons of England
35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London
WC2A 3PE

This weekend as part of October’s Big Draw we have joined up with the Hunterian Museum to put on a day of busy drawing filled activities amongst the weird and wonderful collection that they house.

This Saturday see the pickled specimens on display and join artist Sally Booth in making a transparent drawing installation inspired by the collection. There will be demonstrations from members of the Medical Artists’ Association running throughout the day and the House of Illustration will be on hand with goody bags filled with our drawing kits to help you create your own ‘Exquisite Corpse’.

It is a free event (all materials provided) and is suitable for all ages.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The project ran a series of illustration workshops that aimed at helping young people develop  communication skills and confidence through creative image making. Comics became central to the project as a way of participants passing on their own stories and ideas to one another.

We are overjoyed to hear that following the project Karrie has organised donations from publishers and individuals to kick-start the formation of the Comic Library. With over 100 titles available to borrow we hope this will be a popular resource for everyone at New Horizon.