Birds, Beasts and Fishes

Vignette of a bat from: Anne Carter & Reg Cartwright, Birds, Beasts and Fishes, (Walker, 1991), p. 22, SCM 13325.  ©Reg Cartwright.

'A true master of his art, he manages to make it all look simple'*

*Clare Barry in 'The simple touch' from Artists & Illustrators, (July 2009), p. 93, RAC/13

Original mounted painting, 'The Ass in the Lion's Skin' published in: Anne Carter & Reg Cartwright, Birds, Beasts and Fishes, (Walker, 1991), p. 47, RAC/2.  ©Reg Cartwright.

In 1991, Cartwright provided the illustrations for an anthology of poems celebrating creatures of all shapes, sizes and colours, Birds, Beasts and Fishes. 

'There are gorgeous illustrations – [in] a primitive-naif Rousseau-an manner – by Reg Cartwright … [his] beautiful creatures … have an elegant dream-like serenity …'*

'This is a beautiful book of verse with stunning pictures … definitely a book to hold you spellbound.'**

*Books for Keeps, (January 1992), RAC/11

**Burnley Express, (11 June 1993), RAC/11

'The Octopus', illustrating a poem by Ogden Nash, published in: Anne Carter & Reg Cartwright, Birds, Beasts and Fishes, (Walker, 1991), p. 55, SCM 13325.  ©Reg Cartwright.

Over the course of 1993, many young visitors were delighted by a travelling exhibition of the artwork from Birds, Beasts and Fishes, among them a group of 9-10 year-olds from a junior school in Leeds, whose fan letters to Reg form part of the archive.  In The Yorkshire Post, Mary Sara gave her reaction to this same exhibition:

'The art of Reg Cartwright is known and loved by thousands … The combination of images and poetry is so magical that no child could fail to be entranced.  Children deserve the best in their introduction to art and literature and this artist obliges … The economical style of the paintings belies the sophistication of their design.'*

*Mary Sara in The Yorkshire Post, (25 January 1993), RAC/11