The London Book Fair (LBF) is delighted to announce Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child as the Fair’s inaugural Illustrator of the Fair. A multi-award-winning bestselling writer and artist, Lauren Child is the creator of many much-loved characters, including Clarice Bean, that has sold over 6 million copies worldwide; Ruby Redfort; and Charlie and Lola, her series that has won four BAFTAS and is aired in more than 34 countries.
Lauren Child will be attending LBF on Wednesday 11 April, with a schedule that will include seminars, receptions, photo calls and networking, beginning with an ‘in conversation’ event with the Association of Illustrators (AOI), when she will talk about her work and career.
Lauren Child said: I am so pleased to be the be inaugural Illustrator of the Fair and hope this is the beginning of an on-going tradition at The London Book Fair: Creating a dialogue around the importance of visual literacy. The best illustrations are complimentary to the text, but they are so much more than that. They can relay feelings and emotions and transport you, instantly, to another place and time. It is important to me, in my time as Waterstones Children’s Laureate, to champion the importance of illustration as an art-form, whether for children or adults.
The introduction of the Illustrator of the Fair initiative comes at a time LBF shines a brighter light on illustration within the publishing industry, both with its dedicated Illustrators’ Gallery, and expanded Illustrate Your Point seminar stream. This work has been developed in consultation with the Association of Illustrators.
Jacks Thomas, Director, The London Book Fair, said: How lucky we are to have such illustrator royalty as our first ever Illustrator of the Fair. Lauren Child’s work is universally acclaimed and loved and she is a superb ambassador for an expanded illustration and design programme at LBF18 that reflects the importance of visual excellence within the creative industries.
In other events, an Illustrators Afternoon will see Art Directors from publishers including Bonnier Zaffre, Little Tiger, Scholastic, Titan Books and Usborne Publishing present their Top Tips and what they look for when commissioning illustrators. Seminar attendees will then be able to meet with the panellists for a 15 minute, pre-booked, one to one appointment to show their portfolios, receive feedback and ask questions. In addition, the AOI will be presenting a condensed version of its hugely popular masterclasses covering self-promotion, the commissioner journey, client negotiation and an overview of rights.
Other seminar topics include what makes a successful children’s picture book; the challenges faced when translating illustrated children’s books and a special LIMA Licensing themed seminar – The Wonderful World of Mr Men and Little Miss – entertaining generations from the 1970s – where Sanrio will discuss the products that have helped this brand become the icon it is today.
Tying in with this year’s Market Focus, there will be a seminar dedicated to Estonia’s most successful contemporary children’s writer and illustrator, Piret Raud, and another putting the Spotlight on the Pop-Up Creators Project: an international exchange of outstanding and emerging illustrators and comics artists across the Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the UK.
The Illustrators’ Gallery, LBF’s special feature area, is where eighteen illustrators and artists will be displaying their artwork as part of a collective gallery space. Celebrating its third year in 2018, it is one of the most eye-catching areas of the Fair, and is where attendees can see illustrations on display, network with leading and up and coming illustrators, and commission new projects.
Illustrate Your Point seminars will take place in LBF’s Children’s Hub, CrossMedia Collection and International Markets Theatres and are listed below. Further information can be found here.
Visitor tickets to The London Book Fair can be booked here.