The Scribblings of a Madcap Shambleton

by Noel Fielding

A beautiful and hilarious new book of artwork from the star of The Mighty Boosh

Noel Fielding's book channels the creative influences of Henri Rousseau, Roy Lichtenstein, and Salvador Dalí, through the comedian's strange, singular, and surreal mind. Hilarious and beautifully produced, this is a visual feast which will delight and entertain Noel's many impassioned fans.

"Growing up in the jungles of India there was no need for drawing or painting. I would sometimes arrange ants into primitive still lives or scratch out portraits onto the trunks of trees. Things changed when I was 11, a lame tiger who owned a stationery shop gave me the keys to his stock room, I would roll around in acrylic and oil pastels in reverie, licking canvases and tucking coloured pencils into my wild hair. It was here I learned how to draw and paint well enough to be accepted into Croyden Art College. There, Dexter Dalwood (Turner Prize nominee) taught me and after two years under his supreme tutelage and much hard graft he advised me to become a comedian." —Noel Fielding

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Humor, Comedy, Biography, Comedian, Autobiography

300 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Noel Fielding was born in Westminster (UK) on the 21st of May 1973 and has one younger brother, Michael Fielding.

Other than his love and talent for comedy, Noels first passion has been art. He studied at Croydon Art College and BCUC (Buckingham Chilterns University College) as a visual artist.
He discovered his love for comedy when still being in college. One day he had to do a performance speech based on a book. His fellow students taught it was the funniest thing ever. Impressed by this success he started trying some standup. Still in school Noel used to go see Julian perform in small comedy clubs and after they got to know each other they pretty soon started doing comedy together.

Although finding his place in comedy he never gave up his love for art and painting. He created the designs for sets and characters on the Mighty Boosh and at the end of 2007 Noel got some of his artworks shown at the Gallery Maison Bertaux in London.

Noel being an outgoing and open person likes to take part in different quiz and panelshows. He joined teams with Russell Brand on The Big fat Quiz of the Year 2006 and created the characters of the "Goth Detectives" during the show. Furthermore he appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 2007 as a guest. Later, he replaced Bill Bailey as team captain in 2009.

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 4 stars for fans of Noel only,
Noel and Russell Brand taking something very seriously

I think if you have no idea who Noel Fielding is
1st your less likely to ever come upon this book
2nd I think in reading any of the short stories you would think I am mad for saying this is 4 stars.
Noel Fielding with some of his art


This is mostly a collection of his art, which is in a word,bold.
Bold colour, bold strokes bold subjects and themes (strange subjects and themes as well). There are some short stories, poems and photos, there is a photo of Noel and Paul Foote in a bathroom that is hilarious. Noel's a strange funny cat and so is this book.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just to make it clear, this is an art book, not an autobiography or a memoir or anything like that, so if that's what you're expecting, you're going to be disappointed.

There's a wide sampling of his works, everything from painted plates to a few short stories, and some really lovely photographs of Noel working. Scribblings is a peek inside the mind of Noel Fielding and if you're paying enough attention, you can learn a lot about him.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Noel Fielding. I loved him on The IT Crowd as the random goth guy who lived in the closet. I love him on Never Mind The Buzzcocks. So when I saw this book at work, I needed to "read" it. I tracked it down at the library.

I'm not much for looking at art but I love Noel Fielding's artwork. I love his vibrant use of colour. I love the shapes and picasso-like nature of some of his paintings. Cubism with his unique twist. You can see his personality in his paintings. Odd, quirky and humorous. I also love the random cat-like creatures that pop up in a lot of his paintings.

Also, the stories that accompany the paintings are completely crazy and full of wit. It is a little weird how much Elvis Presley and Bryan Ferry pop up but it was quite funny how ridiculous his stories are.

My favourite story was "The Island of Dr. Gannis". It is like reading an acid trip. Though I've never been on acid so I can't be sure. But it's crazy, imaginative and oh-so witty. Noel Fielding has a way with words and art. This book proved that for me.

I recommend it to anyone who likes Noel Fielding or art.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much as I love Noel Fielding, I didn't really like this book. Sorry Noel.
Some of the artwork is pretty good but the text gets increasingly annoying as you go through. There isn't a lot of it but if you read the book in one sitting, by about half way through it is just drivel.
I do love The Mighty Boosh and the silly sayings that are in that but a book full of sentences made up of random words is a bit tedious.
I am looking forward to Noel's new TV series on E4 in the New Year though. It will be interesting to see how different it is without Julian.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like falling down the rabbit hole of Noel's mind and attempting to wander around without a tour guide, or at the very least a Cheshire Cat. The artwork is crazy and imaginative. The stories are outrageous and fantastical.
This book is far different than I thought it would be, and that is entirely okay by me! I can't wait until Noel writes a full on memoir.

[Ethan Blight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased but best art book of all time what a man I like his use of "triangles", the funniest of all shapes of course, but not the best shape x

[Dorota · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok so i'm obviously biased. but i loved noel's crazy art and his crazy world that he created in this book. not all his drawings and paintings are good... but i liked lots of them. his mad scribblings have cheered me up on those gloomy autumn days.

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Noel Fielding, that androgynous bird of prey! He is, as the title of his book suggests, a ‘Madcap Genius’. I think the reason why I love Noel Fielding is that he is so very silly. He takes his stories or his characters to places that you would never think that they could go to. This is definitely the vibe that you get when you look at his book of art The Scribblings of a Madcap Genius. It is crazy, silly and to some extent very serious. You can see that Fielding takes his talent seriously and if I was being a bit pretentious I would say that his work is a reflection of postmodern society but since I don’t have a clue about art, I won’t.

Either way, if you like Noel Fielding you will like this book.

The Scribblings of a Madcap Genius by Noel Fielding is available now

For more information regarding Noel Fielding (@noelfielding11) please visit www.noelfielding.co.uk.

For more information regarding (@canongatebooks) please visit www.canongatebooks.co.uk.

[Olivia Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is indeed for Noel Fielding fans. (Or artists who enjoy taking a look at other artists’ processes) It’s mainly a collection of paintings with a few photographs and stories to match them. As a massive Noel fan, and a painter-I enjoyed this book greatly, although it’s not for everybody. For me, the best parts were the photos of him actually painting, watching other artists at work is fascinating to me, I also enjoyed the photos of his art supplies and palettes. If you love Noel Fielding’s storytelling, or Luxury Comedy, you’ll love this book.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Noel Fielding. He reminds me to calm the f down and laugh more. His art makes me want to make art. His writing pushes me to eat more heartily of the absurd. His existence makes me smile. I have no idea if I'd like the guy if I met him, but I still understand that I like the world more with him in it. He inspires me. So there.

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I'm a massive fan of everything Noel does and his art is no exception. His fantastical stories that go with each piece are hilarious, and it's nice to read something without needing to understand it.

[Umi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryan Ferry with a kite for a head, that’s genius!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ojalá vivir dentro de la cabeza de este señor.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant massive fan of Noel

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep an eye out for the Tiger Spider. 🐅🕷️💛

[Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a time and a place for Noel Fielding. For me it was my late teens and early twenties, branching out into the world. It was also, incidentally, a time during which a lot of my... "issues" let's call them, started to come out in full force. I realise it sounds like I'm saying you have to be mentally ill to like Noel Fielding; you don't. But my mind and my life were very chaotic back then and I think the chaos that is his persona and performance appealed to me then because it was shared, because of this idea that you can be odd and people will think it's cool.

I'm much more settled now and I just don't "get it" anymore. I came across Scribblings in a charity shop and thought I'd give it a look for old times' sake. I felt vaguely disgusted by parts and irritated by the ridiculousness of the whole thing. So I give my rating with a caveat: that I expect fans to love this book like I doubtless would have, had I read it five years ago, and like I expect my niece to love it when I pass it on. She's nineteen and having her own Noel Fielding obsession - insert something poignant about coming full circle here.

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

People familiar with Noel Fielding and his absurd, Boosh-ian brand of comedy will find much to delight in here.

The book is beautifully formatted and designed (Well done, Bollo!) and is riddled with Noel's scribblings (I mean, it's right there in the title) and fantastical little stories. He is a wonderfully complex and imaginative person and you can see it blatantly on display here.

I shouldn't call them scribblings because the artwork here is more evolved than that. Some people might not find it very accessible (and some of it went straight over my non-arty head,) but some of the pieces are really beautiful and intricate (Pages, 107 and 108 in particular).

There are some wonderful little notes that showcase Noel's cheeky side. My favorite is probably the one about him having an art show in a coffeeshop and asking someone to come see it. That someone then says they'll come if only to smash Noel's face in, which Noel is cool with since he just needs numbers.

There's also a couple of haunting and very lyrical short stories; my favorites are the Tiger Spider and The Island of Dr. Gannis. These stories clearly show that not only is Noel a great artist, but that he can weave a beautiful narrative as well.

It's a great book. Lovingly put together and very rich in content. Well worth it.

Also the picture with Paul Foot is nothing short of awesome....

[Payge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noel is one of the greatest all-around artists to ever be. Painting, Comedy, Acting... amazing.


February 2018

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wide and vivid sampling of Noel's artwork, with a side order of comedy and whimsy. A lot of the writings appear to be taken from notebooks and often give an insight into how Noel layers up stories over time; they start out as a painting or a sentence of gibberish and expand over time into rambling multicoloured surreal stories that always will appeal to my sense of humour. Both taste in Art and taste in comedy are entirely subjective so this won't be for everyone. I myself take baby steps within the art world, so was merely gorging on this as a fan and enjoying the odd and brightly expressive painting and work of a madcap shambleton.

[Nikolas Kalar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comedian Noel Fielding's combination of coffee-table art book and fantastical memoir definitely isn't going to be for everyone, just as his unique brand of absurd, surreal comedy isn't for everyone. That said, you're likely not going to read or even come upon this book unless you are a fan of Fielding, and as a fan, this book has everything you could ask for. A lovely compilation of his artwork photographed by Dave Brown and a series of wacky, colorful tales, both real and fake. A quick, great read for fans, and an easy in to Fielding's world for newcomers.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do with a book like this? For me it's toilet reading at it's very best;
I guess it's principally a coffee table book, though Noel Fielding himself may find
my analogy of it's use more amusing!

Noel is as mad a box of Chocolate Frogs and although sometimes the Humor goes a little
over my head I still find hime to be higley amusing; the artwork is first rate if at
times like the book a little odd.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book but be prepared Madcap Scribbings Indeed.

[Cathal Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just so effortlessly perfect, simply because each page is something directly from Noel's mind. Each photo and picture and short story is different but you can relate them all to Noel.
Noel Fielding is perfection personified, so it makes sense that his art reflects that. I love this book and I love the man that wrote it. He has the guts to be different, something that many people lack.
He is his own person, and I love him for it.

5/5 tigers with chlamydia

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

warning: this is not a real review because I'm incapable of such eloquence

This book is just absolutely beautiful. It's quirky and funny and creative and inspiring and I absolutely adored every part of it. I want to curl up inside Noel Fielding's brain with a cup of tea and a blanket and just observe its workings for a while.
Also, Noel Fielding aside for a moment, Dave Brown's photography and design is gorgeous.

[Hannah Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Noel Fielding, you'll probably like this book and I'd recommend you get it. It's filled with Noel's art and stories, which are as weird and wonderful as you'd imagine something by Noel Fielding to be. Everything in this is beautifully presented, which makes it a great coffee table book.

[Erica Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It took four of us (with special gloves) to move the rainbow into view. Once we had, we sat back down to eat our sandwiches. We all agreed they tasted much better now that we could see the pretty colors."

Noel brings a unique sort of color to the world. Much like the Boosh, this book is the perfect escape.

[Frazer Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never really thought myself to be one to buy a book on essentialy all artwork. Being a fan of Noel's antics on TMB and on NMTB I knew that this would be good, as it was! I've looked through it several times.

[Gillian]

This has pictures of his ar twork from the exhibit in Soho,London,with the corresponding ,hilarious text.It also has great pictures of the man himself and an intro written by him. There is a foreword from his old art teacher.

[Charlotte Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Noel Fielding and everything he's done on television. I'm an artist and I was given this book last Christmas and Noel Fielding's style within his artwork is incredible. Such a talented man, if you love art and surreal stories, I'd recommend this book to you.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, there isn't as much to read in this book as I had hoped/thought there would be. Mostly it's Noel's art that is featured. His imagination is so vast and unconventional that every piece is decidedly unique, but decidedly Noel. I just loved it.

[Mikaela Boye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! The artwork is something else and all of it is very inspiring.
Initially I was hoping for there to be something more, not entirely like a biography but almost.
But it's funny, cute and it made me think.