A Life Drawing: Recollections of an Illustrator

by Shirley Hughes

Lavishly illustrated throughout with sketches from Shirley Hughes' sketchbooks, doodles from boring meetings, roughs from what would later become classic picture books, and perfectly executed paintings done just for the fun of it, this book will be a treasured gift for those who love art and those who have grown up with the enduring characters from Shirley's books. A personal text in the form of a story details her remarkable life as an illustrator.

Genres: Picture Books

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Shirley Hughes is the illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books and has won many prestigious awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She is the author-illustrator of DON'T WANT TO GO! and OLLY AND ME 1 2 3. She died at her home in London on the 25th of February, 2022.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I enjoyed this book so much! I'd read Hughes's 'My Naughty Little Sister' books to my elder daughter, who had some naughty little sister problems of her own to contend with, and had fallen in love with the illustrations.
In this coffee table-sized book, Hughes tells a thorough and compelling (especially so to a fellow artist like me) version of her long life. I was fascinated by her personal glimpses into the world of the professional illustrator, a world that has changed greatly in Hughes's sixty-year career. It is a major strength of this book that Hughes gives us a clear picture of the stresses of historical events not only on her personal biography, but also on that of her profession and, to a large extent, on popular culture, as well.
She's generous in her discussion of other artists and includes many examples of their work along with her own, in this richly visual autobiography.
Fun to read, a real joy to look at, this book gets my highest recommendation.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly what it states: ‘recollections of an illustrator’. I was curious to know more about one of my favourite childhood illustrators and was hoping for a typical autobiography; the story of her life filled with funny anecdotes & intimate details, but I get the feeling Shirley is quite a private person, so she instead opted for the story of her life AS AN ILLUSTRATOR, with some sparse personal details thrown in!
It was still enjoyable despite it being heavy on the technical details, and I loved seeing the vast variety of beautiful artwork she has dabbled in during her lifetime, spread generously across the many pages of this book.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the authors I remember from my early days at Christ College in Chadstone, when Children’s Lit had just earned its credentials and Dinny Cullican had us reading all the latest paperback editions. I loved the Alfie stories and the exploits of the families on Trotter Street. The homes were so warm, messy and “lived in” Despite growing up in far away Australia, the windy gardens of London resonated with the literature I had grown up with.
Reading this, her memoir of sorts took me back to the days of my own discovery of books, the backyard fun and the stories of radio and early television. I fondly remember The Railway Children, The Silver Sword, My Naughty Little Sister.
She mentions the innovations of Margaret Maye, Ezra Jack Keats, Morris Sendak and many more
It will be a treasure on my shelf

[Vicki Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirley Hughes has been a favourite illustrator and author of mine for a long time. This beautiful book is a treasure trove of images and gives a great insight into the creative processes and inspirations behind Shirley's work. Very highly recommended.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely utterly marvellous

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

My grandkids enjoy Hughes' books so much, I thought I'd read this autobiography of her as an artist/author.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love and admire Shirley Hughes’ books please treat yourself to this book. It is a captivating window into her world as an artists and creative soul.

Beautiful and charming beyond words!

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book & beautifully illustrated. So sad to think she’s gone.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really beautiful and fascinating book. I love Shirley Hughes' picture books, and it was lovely to hear about her childhood and how her interest in drawing developed into her career. There are illustrations throughout, only some were familiar so most were new, and always wonderful.

[Emily Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Shirley Hughes is an inspiring author and illustrator. I have picked up some ideas to keep in mind while bringing up my own children too - it's so important for art to be ever-present in their lives, and this book has served to remind me. I just loved reading the stories behind the beloved tales from my own and my children's childhoods. I also loved watching her illustrating style change over the years. What a treat to be able to draw the people you see around you; how inspiring it must be for the creation of character and story.

A great book, well worth a read to anyone who appreciates art, children's books and the development of a great writer.

[Adrianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! Not only easy to read, with a lot of interesting information about Shirley Hughes' early years and inroads into illustrating plus her creative process, but beautifully illustrated as well. There are many full-page and double-page colour illustrations plus plenty of B&W line drawings and examples from Hughes' sketchpads. If you're interested in writing or illustrating children's books, you will love this book. If you're a fan of Shirley Hughes' delightful characters, you'll love this book. This is definitely a keeper.