A Year Unfolding: A Printmaker's View

Product Information

I love all the British seasons, but of all of them, it is the energy of spring and early summer that inspires many of my images. I always try to bring movement into my work, so there is a natural fit with the bursts of new growth and new life you get at these times of year. Also, the intensity of colour, the fresh greens of the garden and hedgerow. Birds become so much part of our day in spring and early summer, in the beauty of their songs and in their mad dashing flight to build nests and find mates. Working with publishers over the years has given me wonderful opportunities to create new work and see my work published on a variety of themes. The advantage of being an older illustrator is that I come with a lifetime of experience. So when I was asked to do the cover for Raynor Winn’s The Salt Path, I could draw on the experience of having walked that coast path and spent a lot of my youth camping in Cornwall. I hope it is evident in the illustration I made for The Salt Path how much I love Cornwall and what great times I have had exploring its coastline. This stunning work, the first book that is solely dedicated to Angela's art, is a celebration of her beautiful prints, and a glimpse into her detailed and meticulous process.

The prize draw is open to residents of the UK aged 18 or over except employees of the Company, their families, or anyone professionally connected to the prize draw either themselves or through their families. All of us have moved so far from a proper connection with the natural world—our comforts come high on what we need or what we think we need. So if my prints are a small reminder of the fact that we are very much part of the natural world, I am honoured. We all cherish those moments when we spot a kingfisher or come across a hedgehog in the garden. I hope, in my work, I communicate some of that joy. So if these wonders of experience with nature are to continue and grow, we need to be reminded how special they are and how much we value them. The cover of this stunning book has an exclusive triptych printed on the reverse - a perfect collector's itemThe much-loved illustrator and printmaker, known to many of us for her greetings cards, advent calendars and the covers of 'The Salt Path' and 'English Pastoral', has produced her first book dedicated to her art. 'A Year Unfolding' takes us through a year of viewing the natural world from her studio in Rutland, and her travels in Britain. You’ve created many beautiful and striking book covers, including English Pastoral, The Wild Isles and The Salt Path. What is the process of creating these? Do you approach each project differently? This competition is being organised by Little, Brown Book Group Limited of Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DZ (“Company”). A Year Unfolding is a journey through the seasons. Why did you decide to give early spring and early summer their own chapters?

A Year Unfolding also tells the stories behind some of Angela's most popular images, giving context to Angela's celebrated work, as well as new art created specifically for the book.We begin by meeting Angela and finding out about her love of art and the countryside, from her time studying printmaking at Leicester and Nottingham to living in Rutland and sailing on the Suffolk coast. Angela has created the covers for many bestselling books, including The Salt Path and The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn, October, October by Katya Balen, English Pastoral by James Rebanks, Christmas is Murder by Val McDermid and RSPB Birds among many others.

October October: 'Katya Balen's October, October is a very special new addition to the shelf and deserves classic status' - The Sunday Times. Published by Bloomsbury.

Summary

Rose said: "Angela’s stunning prints have adorned the covers of other books and she is loved by readers everywhere, we thought it was high time that she had a book that celebrated her work. This is a very special, beautiful book that gives rare insight into a celebrated artist’s process and the stories behind the images that we all know and love so much. We’re so thrilled to welcome Angela, her beautiful prints and evocative prose to the Sphere list." Nature Poets Series by John Keats and The Thought Fox by Ted Hughes (part of series of Hughes poetry). Other illustrators in this series include Sarah Young, Neil Bousfield, Mark Hearld and Angie Lewin. Both published by Faber & Faber.