About us

We started out in the Spring of 2003 as Images of Delight. The name came from a week’s hard debate with illustrator Marcia Williams whilst entertaining children in holiday camps on the island of Majorca. Marcia is also responsible for the image of the unflappable dog, walking off with his picture of a bone, which has become much loved by our customers. When we redesigned the website in 2010, we regretfully decided that the name Images of Delight had to go. Although on the one hand it conjured up images of joy and lightness of spirit, it also sometimes conveyed something else entirely. Fortunately, we had also purchased the domain childrensbookillustration.com back in 2003, and so that was our natural choice as successor. It says what it does.

We’re a small team comprising myself, Linda Owen-Lloyd together with level-headed support from Art Consultant, Louise Power. Additional expertise comes from framer Joe Cashman. Design from Floron Florenzo. P. R. from Nick Butler of Practical Media Services, and the accounts are looked after by Charis Munday.

We specialise in contemporary children’s book illustration because that’s what we know best.

About the artwork

Most of the artworks we have available are the original published pieces from children’s books. Some, however, are preliminary drawings or sketches, and others are what we call an alternative - that is, an original piece of artwork that didn’t end up in the published book for whatever reason.

We do sell some prints as well and you’ll find further information about them on the separate prints page.

A good investment?

“Book illustrations are becoming the watercolours and drawings of the 21st Century” says Emmeline Hallmark, a specialist at Christie’s in London. On the whole, if you’re buying the original published artwork from a successful book by a well-known illustrator, it’s invariably a good investment. When I say successful, it could be in terms of sales, or in terms of critical acclaim. However, I always tell my customers that they should only buy what they like. After all, the picture is possibly going to hang on their walls for the rest of their lives. The preliminary drawings can be equally as good an investment. Recently, our exhibition of Anthony Browne’s preliminary drawings from some of his classic picture books was an outstanding success. The “behind the scenes” drawings reveal the technical skill of the artist in a way the finished piece sometimes hides. The alternatives aren’t as highly valued, but from those illustrators, like Axel Scheffler, who don’t sell any of their published work, it can still be a good investment.

Is there much on the market?

This varies from illustrator to illustrator. Some are loath to sell their work comparing it to parting with their babies! So when they do, it has a rarity factor and the price does reflect this. Others are quite happy to let their artwork go, seeing it more as a release from something they have spent up to a year (or more in some cases) working on. Either way, each piece is unique and unless a print has been made of it, there’s only the one available.

Where would you hang a children’s book illustration?

Most of the pictures would be happy in any room of the house or office and they always invite a response from the observer, generally a large smile. Those children who have them bought for their bedrooms are very lucky indeed!

How should I get it framed?

If you trust me to judge for you, I can get the artwork framed by Bristol based framer Joe Cashman who has worked with me for the past 7 years. Just call to discuss the details. However, sometimes it’s easier to get it done yourself and although the frame depends on personal taste, you should always use an acid-free mount card to prevent discolouration of the art paper. Personally, I prefer a simple frame that doesn’t detract from the illustration, and generally I like to give the image plenty of space to breathe.