Comments on: Charles Keeping, Illustrator

By: Juliet Hale

Juliet Hale — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 19:38:54 +0000

I was lucky enough to study to be a children’s librarian under Eleanor von Schweinitz and Brian Alderson at the N.W. Polytechnic in London. Keeping was a unique artist, full of humour, fondness for animals and people, sharp, sparkling, deep, dark, and refreshing in his candid portraits. The 1960s to 70s was the absolute best time to come of age surrounded by the Beatles, protests, the release of former colonies, and the breaking out of old patterns of school, church and home. Keeping is also timeless. He is both Victorian and classical, modern and old-fashioned. I am so grateful to have seen this work online. Thank you.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 06:53:03 +0000

I collect Keeping-illustrated books, though I haven’t got very many! Very useful post, thank you.

By: Scott Galley

Scott Galley — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:29:29 +0000

Probably my favourite of all the illustrators I have loved over the years. Scrimped and saved to be able to afford all of his Dickens volumes that he did for the Folio Society many moons ago, and they still command a place of honour on the living room bookshelves.

By: belle

belle — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:43:17 +0000

This post is one of the joys of your blog. I too loved Charles Keeping from a young age. His dramatic yet realistic and expressive way of drawing brought the story immediately to life. It is such a wonderful, personal article. Thank you. Also on my “to do” list.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:49:43 +0000

I am thrilled to make this discovery. I have recently gotten very interested in the traditions of British illustration (not sure what took me so long —) and have steeped myself in Bawden, Ravilious, plus current-day geniuses like Mark Hearld, Ed Kluz, Clive Hicks-Jenkins, and Jonny Hannah, to name a few. Adding Charles Keeping to my list of new fascinations — the array of illustrations shown above is absolutely marvelous, and I am very eager to see more, more, and more. I can’t quite define what makes British illustration so “particular” and unlike any other genre — but I find it to be brilliant, captivating, and wonderfully narrative. “Style”, yes —- but SO much more. Hats off to another brilliant posting!

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 10:49:27 +0000

One of my most cherished possessions is a copy of ‘The Highwayman” signed by Charles Keeping while he was here in Toronto with other British children’s writers, like John Rowe Townsend and Jill Paton Walsh. I believe he passed away just a year or two later–too young.

They kept the audience mesmerized with their readings and good humour during question time.

I didn’t know about the museum–it’s on my ‘Must Do’ list now. Thank you!

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 10:49:18 +0000

Thanks for a good write-up. Charles was a prolific ‘artist’ I liked the horse and cart trio on show, lovely movement they are jumping out of the pics. For me he was an outstanding talent and should be recognized internationally (not to late)I would donate. Would like to visit Shortlands sometime. One thing missing no photographs of him in this big blog. Amazing career of this ex military man, behind this super man was his wife Renate a talent in her own right; now that’s what I call a good team. John

By: elizabeth Campbell

elizabeth Campbell — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 09:21:14 +0000

I found this site via Ben Pentreath yesterday,what a delight,thank you.Memories of my childhood came flooding back.You can look at the illustrations again and again,such detail and movement.

By: Catherine Aldred

Catherine Aldred — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 09:04:30 +0000

What a wonderful read! What a hard life he had; such determination. Have always loved his work and found it very inspiring. Have a 1st edition of the 1961 printing of Beowulf which he illustrated. Thanks for sharing this info. Would love to visit his gallery.

By: Nick Ward

Nick Ward — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 08:43:46 +0000

Charles Keeping has always been one of my favourite illustrators, and these “Cockney Sing-song” illustrations are wonderful and very evocative. I really must get down to Kent to visit the gallery.