We are immensely pleased to be selling the limited edition prints of the illustrations from the fabulous book 'The Lost Words' by Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane.

During a visit to Compton Verney to visit a collection of Quentin Blake's work - a rather fun staff outing - we discovered the touring exhibition of Jackie's art work and Robert's spells from the book. We were all wowed by them and were delighted to hear that the same company that publishes Quentin Blake's prints were going to do the same for these.

*

*

The book began as a response to the discovery that many everyday words of nature had been removed from a children's dictionary as they were not being used enough by children. Words such as wren, acorn, conker and bluebell. Words describing the natural world so important in my childhood, when we used to take hugely popular 'nature walks' as part of our school activities. Robert wrote 'spells' to try and summon back the words and creatures into our lives, Jackie accompanied his words with beautiful illustrations. The book has become a phenomenal success, and rightly so.

*

*

'The Lost Words' has taken on a life of it's own, it has become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring hope and change across the world. There are campaigns to get a copy in to as many primary schools as possible with the aim of rekindling a connection between children and the natural world.

* 

*

'I am Raven! Of the blue-black jacket and the boxer's swagger....'

(This one is my favourite.)

*

This year  'Spell Songs' a musical project has flourished out of the original book.

It was performed at the Birmingham Town Hall in February and is currently planning performances throughout 2019.

*

We have just received new prints from the Premium Print Collection. Each print is signed by both Jackie and Robert with either hand drawn pencil remarques by Jackie and hand written spell quotations by Robert or hand applied gold-leaf with hand written spell quotations by Robert.

*

*

Something to treasure now and for years to come.

*

'Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children.

They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed - until one

day they were gone.

But there is an old kind of magic for finding what is missing, and for

summoning what has vanished. If the right spells are spoken, the lost words might return....'

Pay us a visit in Piccadilly Arcade, Birmingham and have a look at these stunning pieces of art.