First up, today is the launch of the very exciting Lindisfarne Gospels Durham exhibition, whereby for 3 months this beautiful Anglo-Saxon illuminated manuscript returns (on loan from the lovely folks at the British Library) to its one time home in Durham. It isn't understating things to say that this is one of the most beautiful and important books in this country's history, so I was very honoured when I was asked by Durham University to co-write and illustrate a kids book about it.
The book arrived on my doormat recently, and I have endeavoured to take the prerequisite idyllic bloggy photos, but it has been made difficult by major building work in my house and high winds in my garden. Apologies in advance!!
The book tells the story of how and why the book was made, and the 200 yr odyssey it went on before settling in Durham. Your guides for the book are these two...based on illustrations that can be found in the manuscript itself. I thoroughly enjoyed working on it, largely as I found the subject fascinating, but also because of the endless enthusiasm and support of Dr Sarah Price, who co-wrote the book with me (and was really the brains behind the operation!). |
| A typical scene in my 'studio' |
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| Heh hem ...and another one... |
I am very proud of the book, but it's always hard to be objective about your own work. It does however seem to have passed the child test!
I'll be going up to Durham at some point in August to do some live drawing (not to be confused with life drawing!) and workshops - I can't wait! I thoroughly recommend a trip to Durham, as this exhibition will be fascinating...but also because I love the place.
