I can hardly believed it’s 25 years since Katie’s Picture Show was first published… A grain of an idea, planted in childhood it grew as a student project and into the first draft 30 years ago. I never expected it to be published at all, let alone spawn a whole series! It was created out of a real, genuine love of the great artists: Constable, Ingres, Malevich, Renoir and Rousseau. Then, some years after I wrote it, Orchard Books took a chance and in 1989 the first edition was published. Here is the original cover…
Now, to celebrate the anniversary, I have returned to that first book and re-illustrated the entire story for a new generation. In truth, I was never entirely happy with those first illustrations; I didn’t have the technique or experience to really achieve what I had in my imagination… Now Katie’s Picture Show is the book I always wanted it to be, a true homage to the great artists that inspired the story.
This very handsome new edition is published TODAY in both sumptuous hardback and stylish paperback editions, with celebratory foil and in a new larger format, beautifully designed by my designer, Clare.
Here are some inside shots… featuring Katie in the gallery and exploring Constable’s Haywain (which had to be Katie’s FIRST picture – I grew up in Suffolk near to this very scene); Renoir’s Umbrellas, Rousseau’s Surprised tiger… such inspiring artists to look at and learn from and dream about!
It was a LOT of work! Boy did I work hard on it… It was truly a labour of love, and yet curiously satisfying to go back in time and revisit these oh, so familiar scenes. This time I could lavish 25 years of experience and knowledge on the illustrations, and that was a good feeling!
In celebrating the other artists, I suppose my own work, my own identity has become a little lost. Sometimes I ask myself: Who am I? Others might criticise these books as mere pastiche. But then, out of the blue, comes a message from a parent like this, just last month:
“We LOVE your book Katie and the British Artists and it has been inspirational to our 5 yr old who now wants to be an artist when he grows up. My husband and I are medical and not at all artistic! In October we took him to the National Gallery to see if we could find some of the paintings. This was the first time we had taken him to a gallery and it was incredible to see his face, it was one of those parenting moments I will never forget. He was lost in the enormity and beauty of the whole place and couldn’t believe how, for him, the whole book came alive. He was like any other kid in a sweet shop! After a little while of looking around and finding some favourite paintings, he caught a glimpse of something through the door and shouted at the top of his voice “Mummy, there is Whistlejacket!” and ran through the doors with so much excitement and everyone was watching him! I had tears in my eyes at this point and to this day I have never seen him happier than that moment. It was incredible. Thank you for bringing art alive for him!”
And then I know it has all been worthwhile. There have been so many kind messages and friendships forged over these 25 years. Today’s anniversary day seems a good time to remember, celebrate and thank everyone who has been in touch and supported Katie on her adventures! Especially “Little Katie Light” in America, to whom one book is dedicated (she’s all grown up now…), Margaret, my beloved friend and for many years head at Tacolneston Primary School (another book dedicated to her!), my sister who inspired the books of course… and so many others. You know who you are (I hope!). And especially Orchard Books, who have kept Katie firmly in print for so many years! All I ever wanted to do was share my love of art with children. You all made that possible.
Over the next few months ALL the Katie books will be reissued in the new format, with new covers, until the set is completed in Summer 2015. Katie and the Sunflowers, Katie in Scotland and Katie in London have already been reissued.
Look out for the rest in the coming months and… Happy Anniversary KATIE!
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