Craig, Helen

 

BIOGRAPHY

Original picture book artwork by Helen Craig is available for purchase from Images of Delight together with a selection of Angelina Ballerina limited edition prints.

Helen Craig spent her childhood in a remote part of Essex living in a tiny
thatched cottage with no electricity or running water. Her father was Edward
Craig, the writer and designer for theatre and films; her grandfather was
Edward Gordon Craig, also a theatrical designer and producer and the son of
Dame Ellen Terry. She loved drawing but "I felt rather overwhelmed by this
wealth of talent around me," and never thought of it as a profession and did not
attend art school. Instead she was apprenticed at the age of 16 to a firm of
commercial photographers and later worked as a portrait photographer in her
own studio in London. She lived in Spain for three years and it was there that she began drawing seriously and making ceramic sculpture.

She started illustrating children's books in 1969 - while bringing up her
small son alone - and has since then completed over sixty, including sixteen
titles about her popular mouse character Angelina Ballerina. Helen usually
works in watercolour but she illustrated The Yellow House using etchings and
aquatints. Her retelling of Aesop's fable The Town Mouse and the Country
Mouse was shortlisted for the 1992 Smarties Book Prize and she enjoyed the
characters Charlie and Tyler so much that she wrote Charlie and Tyler at the
Seaside.

Helen now lives just outside Cambridge. She collects children's books, new
and old, and hopes one day to find time to do other work - painting from
life and sculpture.

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ILLUSTRATIONS

Please click on image to enlarge and view details of size, price etc.
I am delighted to introduce these wonderful new Angelina Ballerina signed limited edition giclee prints produced by Aquarelle Publishing.

A limited edition is created when the number of prints reproduced is "limited" to a finite number, by the artist and the publisher to create a rarity for the benefit of the collector (in this case the edition is just 195). By combining the skill and expertise of craftsmen with the world's leading printing technology, stunning colour saturation and definition is achieved.

Each print is individually reproduced, examined, passed and then hand embossed as a seal of the publishers approval. They are then numbered and signed by the artist to authenticate and verify its quality. A Certificate of Authenticity and an artist's biography is supplied with each print which is presented in conservation mounts and are acetate wrapped, ready for framing.

"I find Aquarelle Publishing Ltd prints practically indistinguishable from the originals." Charles Hind, Curator of Drawings Collection. RIBA



Dancing for the Princess of Mouseland
Angelina's first lesson
Angelina practising curtsies
Angelina dances for Polly

You're a good little dancer.
Angelina is too excited to sleep.
This is the Bear, written by Sarah Hayes and first published in 1986 by Walker Books Ltd. The following illustrations come from the black & white edition published by Scholastic in 1999.

This is the Bear was the first in a series of hugely successful books about the adventures of a bear. The fact that they are still in print 22 years later is proof of their enduring popularity.



Helen Craig
Helen Craig (framed)
Helen Craig
Helen Craig

Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Helen Craig

Helen Craig (framed)
Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Helen Craig

Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Helen Craig (framed)
Helen Craig

Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Angelina's Star Performance produced by the English National Ballet and based on Angelina at the Palace. They are performing at many venues around the country during 2007 and 2008. Further information can be found on www.ballet.org.uk and www.angelinaballerina.com.

I've struggled to compromise between quality and download speed with the following illustrations. The originals have a much greater depth of colour, finer shading (which is completely lost here I'm afraid) and exquisite detail. If you would like to look at larger files, please don't hesitate to contact me. Email linda@imagesofdelight.com or telephone 0117 973 7018.



Helen Craig
Helen Craig
Angelina's Birthday, written by Katharine Holabird and first published 1989 by Aurum Press Ltd.



Helen Craig (framed)
Angelina's Christmas, written by Katharine Holabird, first published 2003 by Puffin Books.

Another beautifully illustrated book in the bestselling Angelina Ballerina series.



Helen Craig
Angelina's Invitation to the Ballet, written by Katharine Holabird, first published 2003 by Puffin Books.

"The writing is crisp, the illustrations detailed wih a lovely sense of emotion." The Guardian



Helen Craig
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

You can now easily buy or find out more about some of Helen's books by clicking on those that are highlighted. You will be taken directly to the publisher's website but can return quickly by clicking on "Back"

ABC (Mouse House), published 1978 by Aurum Press
Rosy's Visitors, written by Judy Hindley, first published 2002 by Walker Books
Charlie and Tyler at the Seaside, first published 1995 by Walker Books
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, first published 1992 by Walker Books
Mary Mary, written by Sarah Hayes, first published 1990 by Walker Books
This is the Bear, written by Sarah Hayes, first published 1986 by Walker Books
This is the Bear and the Bad Little Girl, written by Sarah Hayes, first published 1995 by Walker Books
This is the Bear and the Picnic Lunch, written by Sarah Hayes, first published 1988 by Walker Books
This is the Bear and the Scary Night, written by Sarah Hayes, first published 1991 by Walker Books
Foggy Friday, written by Phyllis Root, first published 2000 by Walker Books
Meow Monday, written by Phyllis Root, first published 2000 by Walker Books
Soggy Saturday, written by Phyllis Root, first published 2001 by Walker Books
One Windy Wednesday, written by Phyllis Root, first published 1996 by Walker Books
Turnover Tuesday, written by Phyllis Root, first published 1998 by Walker Books
The Knight, the Princess and the Dragon, published 1985 by Walker Books
The Night of the Paper Bag Monsters, written and illustrated by Helen Craig and published 1985 by Walker Books (Plus 3 others in the series).
The Yellow House by Blake Morrison, first published 1987 by Walker Books
The Orchard Nursery Story Book, written and illustrated by HelenCraig and first published 1999 by Orchard Books
Angelina Ballerina, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1983 by Aurum Press
Angelina and Henry, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 2002 by Puffin/HIT Entertainment
Angelina and Alice, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1987 by Aurum Press
Angelina and the Princess, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1984 by Aurum Press
Angelina at the Fair, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1985 by Aurum Press
Angelina Ice Skates, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1993 by ABC
Angelina on Stage, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1986 by Aurum Press
Angelina's Baby Sister, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1991 by ABC
Angelina's Birthday, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1989 by ABC
Angelina's Christmas, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 1985 by Aurum Press
Angelina's Halloween, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 2001 by Penguin/HIT Entertainment
Angelina's Invitation to the Ballet, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 2003 by Puffin/HIT Entertainment
Angelina Star of the Show, written by Katherine Holabird, first published 2004 by Puffin/HIT Entertainment
Angelina Ballerina's Pop-Up and Play Musical Theatre, written by Katharine Holabird, to be published by Puffin/HIT Entertainment in October 2008
A Finder's Magic, written by Philippa Pearce, to be published by Walker Books in October 2008

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