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shirleyhughes.bsky.social
We will be posting from Shirley’s books and archive, along with news and updates.
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We have thrilling news, and a date for your diaries… ‘Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella’, based on Shirley’s original story, is coming to the stage on July 3rd - 6th at The Peacock Theatre in London. Not to be missed. Tickets here! www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/ell...

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

What a TREAT! Lauren Bravo’s wonderfully warm and charming piece on Mum’s mums is published in the Observer today. observer.co.uk/style/fashio...

submitted 47 days ago • 1 comment

‘Bathwater’s hot, seawater’s cold, Ginger’s kittens are very young, but Buster’s getting old.’ One of my very favourite pages from Shirley’s books, from the Nursery Collection.

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment

Today - Shirley’s cats! This is Mopsa (and her kittens), who belongs to Lucy and Tom.

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment

(continued) I like to think Shirley was at her very happiest, in a shaded garden with a glass of wine and her sketchbook, doing what she loved most.

submitted 62 days ago • 0 comments

The last of our sketchbook showcase: plein air paintings, mostly from Italy.

submitted 62 days ago • 0 comments

… as well as Lucy and Tom’s house. Both sketched in West London - Hammersmith (Alfie) and North Kensington (Lucy and Tom).

submitted 64 days ago • 1 comment

So lovely to discover the prototype sketches for Alfie’s house, and front door - famously slammed shut in Alfie Gets in First…

submitted 64 days ago • 0 comments

What you’ll notice most of all is how fleeting and lightning-quick Shirley’s drawings are, full of warmth, vitality and humour.

submitted 67 days ago • 1 comment

A selection of Shirley’s sketchbook drawings, of particular interest we hope to anyone entering the Sketchbook Award in collaboration with Orange Beak, celebrating observational drawing of people, especially children and families. Good luck, sketchbookers - can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to!

submitted 67 days ago • 0 comments

School holidays AND the Shirley Hughes Sketchbook Award with @orangebeak.bsky.social? A perfect excuse to showcase Shirley’s own sketchbooks. More to follow during this week!

submitted 67 days ago • 1 comment

This glorious weather just goes on and on! Three of our favourite illustrations and poems: Purple, from Colours; Sunshine at Bedtime and Spring Greens, from Out and About; both part of The Nursery Collection published by Walker Books.

submitted 75 days ago • 1 comment

A moment to admire headscarves in the life and work of Shirley Hughes. First image is from Dogger; second and third are photos of her in the mid 60’s. We think of Shirley as immensely stylish in later life, in her pink coat and wonderful hats, but how about as a young mum herself? You can decide!

submitted 79 days ago • 2 comments

(continued) After we - Shirley’s children - had signed with The Agency, we strolled down to this park with our new agent Jessica Hare. It’s just around the corner from their office - how neatly it is all meant to be. So, here were are: left to right, Clara, Jessica, Ed and Tom!

submitted 80 days ago • 1 comment

Shirley’s playground illustrations are an absolute tour de force. This is from Helpers, published in 1975, inspired by Avondale Park in Notting Hill. We would play here after school, and Mum brought her sketchbook along. We all remember the fierce lavatory attendant!

submitted 80 days ago • 2 comments

📣 and we have NEWS! The Shirley Hughes Estate has signed up with Jessica Hare at The Agency! An exciting new chapter begins, and what a dream pairing - we couldn’t be more thrilled. www.thebookseller.com/news/the-age...

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments