Books Illustrated Ltd is exhibiting at the Salisbury Museum from 4 April to 4 July. ‘The Wonder of Illustration’ features original artwork by Andrew Skilleter for C. S. Lewis’ fantastic tales of Narnia. All pieces of art on display are for sale.
In the late 1980s, the BBC began to adapt for radio The Chronicles of Narnia. Brian Sibley, writer, dramatist and broadcaster was responsible for the acclaimed dramatisation of this classic for BBC Radio 4. Brian had earlier dramatised the epic Radio 4 Lord of the Rings, a brilliant realisation for radio of another great classic.
Between 1989 and 1997 Andrew Skilleter was commissioned by BBC AudioBooks to illustrate the seven audio cassette covers for the complete Chronicles of Narnia. This culminated in Andrew designing and providing the art for the BBC Complete Treasury box set, a wardrobe complete with opening doors holding all seven cassette cases.
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All the work is for sale and can purchased without visiting the exhibition from www.booksillustrated.com
Painting Narnia
by Andrew Skilleter
In the late 1980s, the BBC began to adapt for radio The Chronicles of Narnia. Brian Sibley, writer, dramatist and broadcaster was responsible for the acclaimed dramatisation of this classic for BBC Radio 4. Brian had earlier dramatised the epic Radio 4 Lord of the Rings, a brilliant realisation for radio of another great classic.
At the end of 1989 Andrew Skilleter was commissioned to illustrate the first two covers of the Chronicles and continued until the final cover, The Last Battle, in 1996.
The first two covers required an allegorical approach best suited for a Radio Four adult audience. Andrew devised the Narnia scroll and lettering which would feature on each and every cover and it was intended that this should alternate left and right as the sequence progressed.
A shift in art direction led to a change in the brief for the third cover, The Horse and His Boy. A more narrative approach that would appeal to children was required. The Narnia scroll would remain but situated on the right hand side of each cover.
In 1994 a makeover was introduced to give the covers a unified identity and as a consequence Andrew was commissioned to produce The Chronicles of Narnia title scroll and lettering plus individual spine motifs for all of the seven covers. When the cassettes spines were placed together it would spell Narnia, the final spine icon featuring Aslan’s head. All the cover inlays were redesigned using Andrew’s art, designs and textures.
With the Chronicle cover sequence completed, he was soon commissioned to devise the concept and provide the art for The Chronicles of Narnia Complete Treasury box set in 1997. It would take the form of a wardrobe complete with opening doors holding all seven cassette cases. All the imagery included within the decorative borders are derived from the Narnia stories; devotees can spend hours identifying the visual references. Ten pieces of artwork were completed for the box including the architrave and the door interiors featured a number of coats, scarves and belts.
© Andrew Skilleter 2009
