Our newsletter for October brings an update on two very different collections, and includes some exciting news about previously unseen work by the artist Muriel Dawson. There’s a fantastic opportunity here to show the work of this exceptionally talented illustrator to a brand new audience, so do read on.

Muriel Dawson

Some time ago, we chanced upon the work of an illustrator which charmed us all. Her colourful drawings of children were beautifully observed, affectionate, truthful and sweet, and exhibited wonderful draughtsmanship. The artist was Muriel Dawson (1897-1974), and we set to the task of captioning and scanning all her work which became available to us.

Muriel Dawson was born in New Zealand to Scottish parents, but moved back to the UK in 1913. She studied art at Richmond School of Art and later the Royal College of Art and found work as an illustrator from the early 1920s. Muriel enjoyed rural life and spent time living in Sussex and Dartmoor before finally returning to her Scottish roots and settling in the remote Shetland Islands, where she spent the final years of her life. During the 1920s and 1930s her work had been familiar to thousands. As well as illustrating a number of books, Dawson contributed hundreds of pictures for the front cover of weekly magazine, Woman's Pictorial from the 1920s through to the 1940s. She also had a long-standing relationship with art publisher The Medici Society (who we now represent here at Mary Evans).

We have recently been delighted to make the acquaintance of close friends of Muriel from the Shetland Islands, who were left a bequest of a number of original illustrations and other items when she died in 1974. Among the beautiful work in her archive are several small sketch books, filled with pencil drawings, mainly of children and babies but also mothers with their offspring, as well as dogs, cats and a number of fine flower and plant paintings, demonstrating her deep love of nature subjects. Even the simplest figures show a wonderfully fluid style and an eye for capturing movement, emotion and tenderness. One sketchbook in particular contains page after page of meticulously drawn, full colour figures, carefully themed and composed to showcase Dawson's versatility as an artist. Frequent annotations record thoughts about improvements to the drawings or are snippets of conversation with the children that have struck Muriel as amusing or poignant.

All of these original sketches, paintings and drawings are now on our website, though there are still several hundred Woman’s Pictorial covers left to scan and upload which we aim to complete as soon as possible. These beautiful illustrations, and the previously unseen sketchbooks, deserve to be appreciated and loved by a new audience.

For a selection, please click here.

A synopsis of summer holidays

A new set of brochure covers from the Thomas Cook Archive is now online. Dating from the 1890s to the 1950s, and covering tours in Switzerland, Egypt, East Africa and the USSR amongst other places, the striking graphic design and succinct taglines of these covers take you to another world. Prestatyn Holiday Camp in 1959 (“So much to do – so little to pay”) is a particular favourite, and a fitting destination for hard-pressed families in these austere times.

Click here for the full set.

Out and about

Just a reminder that this month we are on our travels at the Frankfurt Book Fair, at Visual Connections in New York, and, closer to home, at the Brand Licensing Europe show at Olympia in London.

Taking place from 10th to 14th October, the Frankfurt Book Fair is the largest in the world with more than 7000 international exhibitors and a huge programme of events, conferences and seminars. Mary Evans will be in Hall 8.0, Stand L910 and we’d love to see you. For more information about the fair, go to http://www.buchmesse.de

Brand Licensing Europe is in its 14th year, and with a 3-day show taking place at Olympia in Kensington, from 16th to 18th October, promises to be its most dynamic yet. Over 2,200 of the latest brands, characters and images to license will be showcased, making it the unmissable show in this sector. We are in the Art, Design & Image Licensing Zone on stand F150. Register for the show at www.brandlicensing.eu, and come and see us.

Visual Connections will be returning to the Altman Building this year, at 135 West 18th Street, New York, on Wednesday 24th October. This image expo is always a popular day, with the chance to meet suppliers, discover new image sources, and put faces to names. A magnificent supply of free refreshments are available all day for that added bonus. We are on stand A37 and would be delighted to chat about your up-and-coming projects. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to meet, and for more details and to register, see http://www.visualconnections.com.

ME & You Autumn 2012

The latest issue of ME & You, our twice-yearly compact magazine, is now out and available to read in digital form on our website. From the notorious Margaret, Duchess of Argyll (who did something unspeakable and was photographed doing it), to a short history of London’s firefighters, not to mention our competition to win £100 of Amazon vouchers, it’s an enlightening read and a visual treat.

Take a look here.

Boxing clever

Finally, to keep it brief, we now have our very own range of underwear, available in River Island and other quality stockists.

Let us know what you think

We welcome your feedback about this newsletter or any aspect of the Mary Evans Picture Library. Please write to us at [email protected]. If you'd rather be unsubscribed from our mailing list, please click here.

Best wishes,

Mary Evans Picture Library