One of the highlights on our calendar is the Winter Exhibition at the Illustration Cupboard in Bury Street, London. This little gem of a gallery houses originals and limited edition prints of mostly children’s illustrators. This year the display includes animation cells from The Snow man and layouts from Judge Dredd as well as the highly detailed watercolours of Inga Moore for The Secret Garden and Wind in the Willows. Also on display were John Vernon Lord, John Lawrence and Jane Ray amongst many, many others.

It is always fascinating to examine the illustration techniques at close quarters and the gallery gives you a chance to see them “in the flesh” where so much more is visible than in the published versions. On many occasions they have actual illustrators present to answer your questions.

Collectors amongst you can buy illustrations here but if you can’t reach the prices you can instead buy signed books by many of the illustrators. According to the lady at the Illustration Cupboard the current most popular books on sale are by Lauren Child, of Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean fame. These are closely followed by our own current favourite, Shaun Tan, who has a range of story and sketch books for sale, including the very desirable The Arrival special edition.

The Illustration Cupboard has a great website in which youcan explore their artists. Go to http://www.illustrationcupboard.com.