When it comes to making people laugh, Mabel Lucie Attwell’s colourful illustrations of cute children with a cheeky message always met the brief. But how did the ideas tumble from her mind onto the page? Did she use a formula to ensure success whether postcard, book or comic strip? How would you approach the creative process – words or pictures first?  An article in the Strand Magazine in 1936 settles the question: ‘I can’t start on a drawing until I’ve finally decided upon the title. In fact I never put pencil to paper until I have found a title that satisfies me. Sometimes I’ll have discarded twenty or thirty titles before I light upon the one that perfectly hits off the...

Introducing… Mabel Lucie Attwell     Mabel Lucie Attwell was a devoted mother and passionate artist – popular and successful throughout her life (1879–1964). She was perhaps best-known for her cryptic and amusing messages – empathising mostly with mothers facing the chaos of family life. Her delightful illustrations have filled the pages of children’s classics and motivated the national spirit through both World Wars. She painted cards for the Royal Family and graced the pages of The Tatler. As family, we are proud to bring her gorgeous illustrations back to life. In this exciting new venture, we are rediscovering her most well-known originals and uncovering family memories and archives of her work spanning her extraordinary life – to share. We are launching Mabel...