Shirley Hughes & Friends

Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella - London Children's Ballet - Peacock Theatre - Sadler's Wells Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella - London Children's Ballet - Peacock Theatre - Sadler's Wells

We have thrilling news, and a date for your diaries… ‘Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella’, based on Shirley’s original story, is coming to the stage on July 3rd - 6th at The Peacock Theatre in London.
Not to be missed. Tickets here!
www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/ell...

Very much same here, as you say on reflection another aspect to her genius. So deeply embedded in the stories, you hardly know it’s there.

What should a mother wear? Shirley Hughes, my style icon A mother finds a solution to her postnatal style crisis in the beloved books of childhood

What a TREAT! Lauren Bravo’s wonderfully warm and charming piece on Mum’s mums is published in the Observer today.
observer.co.uk/style/fashio...

How lovely, thank you so much Lesley! 🥰

‘Bathwater’s hot, seawater’s cold, Ginger’s kittens are very young, but Buster’s getting old.’ One of my very favourite pages from Shirley’s books, from the Nursery Collection.

Today - Shirley’s cats! This is Mopsa (and her kittens), who belongs to Lucy and Tom.

How really lovely, thank you for showing us!

In ours too! There’s a new board book edition of these four - the same or very slightly shortened for the format…

(continued)
I like to think Shirley was at her very happiest, in a shaded garden with a glass of wine and her sketchbook, doing what she loved most.

The last of our sketchbook showcase: plein air paintings, mostly from Italy.

… as well as Lucy and Tom’s house. Both sketched in West London - Hammersmith (Alfie) and North Kensington (Lucy and Tom).

So lovely to discover the prototype sketches for Alfie’s house, and front door - famously slammed shut in Alfie Gets in First…

What you’ll notice most of all is how fleeting and lightning-quick Shirley’s drawings are, full of warmth, vitality and humour.

A selection of Shirley’s sketchbook drawings, of particular interest we hope to anyone entering the Sketchbook Award in collaboration with Orange Beak, celebrating observational drawing of people, especially children and families. Good luck, sketchbookers - can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to!

School holidays AND the Shirley Hughes Sketchbook Award with @orangebeak.bsky.social? A perfect excuse to showcase Shirley’s own sketchbooks. More to follow during this week!

This glorious weather just goes on and on! Three of our favourite illustrations and poems: Purple, from Colours; Sunshine at Bedtime and Spring Greens, from Out and About; both part of The Nursery Collection published by Walker Books.

Wonderful isn’t it? And the chap tending his pigeons!

Thank you so much, Sandra!

Same here 🥰

Thank you! So glad to meet you too! 🥰

Thank you Sarah, what a wonderful comment ❤️

Thank you so much, this is lovely to hear ❤️

A moment to admire headscarves in the life and work of Shirley Hughes. First image is from Dogger; second and third are photos of her in the mid 60’s. We think of Shirley as immensely stylish in later life, in her pink coat and wonderful hats, but how about as a young mum herself? You can decide!

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After we - Shirley’s children - had signed with The Agency, we strolled down to this park with our new agent Jessica Hare. It’s just around the corner from their office - how neatly it is all meant to be. So, here were are: left to right, Clara, Jessica, Ed and Tom!

Shirley’s playground illustrations are an absolute tour de force. This is from Helpers, published in 1975, inspired by Avondale Park in Notting Hill. We would play here after school, and Mum brought her sketchbook along. We all remember the fierce lavatory attendant!

Today it’s me, yes! Still thinking about it :)

The Agency signs the estate of author-illustrator Shirley Hughes The Shirley Hughes Estate has signed with Jessica Hare at The Agency to “conserve the legacy” of the author-illustrator and Dogger creator.

📣 and we have NEWS! The Shirley Hughes Estate has signed up with Jessica Hare at The Agency! An exciting new chapter begins, and what a dream pairing - we couldn’t be more thrilled.

www.thebookseller.com/news/the-age...

Yes indeed. Timeless and kind, always with a light touch.

Thanks so much, Anne!

Thank you so much! 🥰