All Things Considered

The Unsophisticated Arts
Posted by Simon Lewin

Another Barbara Jones post! Our friends at Little Toller have just republished The Unsophisticated Arts in which Barbara Jones records the art of everyday life. She travelled throughout Britain visiting fairgrounds, tattoo parlours, taxidermists, houseboats, high street shops, seaside piers and amusement arcades.

The book was first published in 1951, the same year that Barbara Jones curated the ‘Black Eyes and Lemonade’ exhibition for the Festival of Britain. These two events were definitive in the history of popular art, creating a vibrant snapshot of culture in postwar Britain which has influenced generations of artists and designers ever since.

This new edition includes previously unpublished ephemera and art from Barbara Jones’s studio including watercolour, ink and pencil studies from her sketchbooks which reveal her lifelong fascination with vernacular art.

Find out more about the book or take a look at a few pages from the original catalogue for Black Eyes & Lemonade.

Posted by Simon Lewin on April 30th, 2013

Ravilious Submarine
Posted by Angie Lewin

I'm really looking forward to seeing James Russell's new book, published by the Mainstone Press, about Eric Ravilious' Submarine series of lithographs. Created during the winter of 1940-41, these prints capture the cramped conditions inside a naval submarine during wartime.

Above all this series of ten prints are brilliant examples of how auto-lithography faithfully reproduces - and even enhances - the qualities of drawn line and texture. They're not mere reproductions of watercolour drawings. Ravilious' skill as a printmaker is evident - especially in the images with the striking use of bright yellow and blue with graphite grey.

So far I've only seen these images - I can't wait to see the book in the flesh. Will report back soon.

In the meantime, find out more about the book from James Russell's blog and the Mainstone Press website.

Posted by Angie Lewin on February 13th, 2013

Burns Miscellany
Posted by Angie Lewin

Jonny Hannah's 'Burns Miscellany' landed on our doormat today with spontaneous drawings printed onto vibrant coloured pages. Timorous Sassanachs that we are, we didn't indulge in traditional the haggis fare last night but are big fans of Tunnocks of all varieties - including Mark Hearld's collage, exhibited at Godfrey & Watt in 2011 (see last image).

You can see more of Jonny's printmaking over at St. Jude's Prints.

Posted by Angie Lewin on January 26th, 2013

Caught By The River
Posted by Simon Lewin

Our friends at Caught By The River are publishing a paperback version of their first book, Words On Water.

Featuring a beautiful brand new cover painting by James Lewis, a rejigged design inside and a new introduction by Charles Rangeley-Wilson, all orders taken before 15th May 2012 will be despatched ahead of publication date and signed by the editors and as many of the contributors they can get their hands on.

Order your copy online today.

Posted by Simon Lewin on May 1st, 2012

A First Book of Nature – the exhibition
Posted by Simon Lewin

Opening on Tuesday 1st May at The Foyles Gallery (on the third floor of Foyles Bookshop, London) is an exhibition of the original artwork spreads for A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and Mark Hearld.

In this exhibition Mark brings nature's changing seasons and its rich cast of creatures to life - spring hares mid-leap, the buzz of insects in summer, worms by moonlight, starlings in flight and a fox padding through a winter snow-covered garden - in this delightful exhibition.

All of the original artworks will be available to purchase.

The exhibition runs from 1st May 2012 until 13th May 2012. Open Monday-Saturday 9.30am until 5pm and Sunday 11.30am until 6pm. Admission is free of charge.

The Foyles Gallery, Third Floor, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB.

Find out more about A First Book of Nature or purchase a copy online.

Posted by Simon Lewin on April 30th, 2012

David Gentleman
Posted by Simon Lewin

It's been a good year so far for books about London. Christopher Brown's An Alphabet of London is already being reprinted and Spitalfields Life continues to find new admirers.

And this week sees the launch of David Gentleman's London, You're Beautiful. David Gentleman has been drawing London all his adult life, and for the past year has spent his days focused on looking afresh at the city. The resulting book of sketches, drawings and watercolours, arranged month by month, shows a year in the life of London and reveals the city that is hidden in plain view.

An associated exhibition of David Gentleman's work opens at The Fine Art Society on New Bond Street on the 4th May 2012.

Order a copy online via Amazon

Posted by Simon Lewin on April 29th, 2012

Spitalfields Life
Posted by Simon Lewin

We're long time fans of the Spitalfields Life blog, best described by The Gentle Author's pledge...

"Over the coming days, weeks, months and years, I am going to write every single day and tell you about life here in Spitalfields at the heart of London. How can I ever describe the exuberant richness and multiplicity of culture in this place to you? This is both my task and my delight.

Let me disclose to you the hare-brained ambition I am pursuing, which is to write at least ten thousand stories about Spitalfields life. At the rate of one a day, this will take approximately twenty-seven years and four months. Who knows what kind of life we shall be living in 2037 when I write my ten thousandth post?

I do not think there will be any shortage of material, though it may be difficult to choose what to write of because the possibilities are infinite. Truly all of human life is here in Spitalfields."

This new book brings together many of the places and characters covered by the blog - street life, street art, markets, diverse food, immigrant culture, ancient houses and history, pageants and parades, rituals and customs, traditional trades and old family businesses. Spend a night in the bakery at St John with baker Justin Piers Gellatly, ride the rounds with Kevin Read the Spitalfields milkman, drop into the Golden Heart for a pint with landlady Sandra Esqulant, meet Paul Gardner the fourth-generation paper-bag seller, Steve Brooker the mudlark who discovers treasure in the Thames, Bill Crome the window cleaner who sees ghosts and Alan Hughes the master bell-founder whose business started in 1570.

The book is illustrated by Rob Ryan, Lucinda Rogers and Mark Hearld (some of Mark's illustrations are pictured below).

On Friday 2nd March 2012 the book will be launched at Christ Church Spitalfields - between 7-9pm. All are welcome.

All photographs below by Simon Lewin.

All photographs above by Simon Lewin.

Posted by Simon Lewin on March 1st, 2012

A First Book Of Nature
Posted by Simon Lewin

The postman arrived with a very welcome package from Walker Books last week - a preview copy of 'A First Book Of Nature' by Nicola Davies which is illustrated throughout by Mark Hearld.

Over the last couple of years Mark had shown us various spreads from the book whilst he was working on the project - it really was a mammoth task.

A few words from Waterstones about the book...

"This is an exquisite book that evokes a child's first experience of nature. From beach combing to stargazing, from watching squirrels, ducks and worms to making berry crumble or a winter bird feast, this is a remarkable book - part poetry, part scrapbook of recipes, facts and fragments - and a glorious reminder that the natural world is on our doorstep waiting to be discovered."

The book is published in May but can be pre-ordered now Amazon.

Mark will be exhibiting original artwork from the book in London in May - and he'll then be joining Angie Lewin and Emily Sutton for our next St. Jude's In The City exhibition - also in London. Sign up for our e-mail newsletter if you'd like to receive details nearer the time.

And we'll soon be announcing details of 'Harvest Hare', Mark's first wallpaper for St. Jude's. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details.

All photographs below by Simon Lewin.

All photographs by Simon Lewin.

Posted by Simon Lewin on February 21st, 2012

The Joy of Books
Posted by Simon Lewin

An amazing piece of stop frame animation that is proving very popular on Facebook and the like...

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 14th, 2012

Ben Bryden
Posted by Simon Lewin

Now living in New York, saxophonist and composer Ben Bryden is back in Scotland for an appearance in Edinburgh on Saturday night.

Ben has collaborated with poet Rab Wilson on 1957 Flying Scot, a book and CD set celebrating Glasgow's great heritage of building high quality racing and touring bicycles. The eponymous marque was once the dream and aspiration of many working class boys in Scotland. They were incredibly expensive, exotic and desirable objects in their day.

Rab's sonnets feature both in the book and read on one of the CDs. The second CD features music inspired by the work, composed and performed by Ben.

The book and CD set is illustrated throughout by Hugh Bryden and published by his Roncadora Press.

On Saturday 7th January 2012, Rab and Ben will launch the edition from 7pm at Ronde Cycle Café, 66-68 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5AZ.

Whilst in New York, Ben also collaborates with fellow tenor saxophonist Steven Delannoye on the Bright Noise project.

An EP of new material has just been released, with an illustrated sleeve by our mutual friend Jonny Hannah. Full details via Ben's website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 6th, 2012