Edward Ardizzone Prints

Edward Ardizzone was born in 1900 in what is now Vietnam. Whilst his father stayed in the Far East working for the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, his mother brought the five year old Edward to live in England. Here they moved from place to place, but they were never too far from Ipswich where Edward’s grandmother resided. At Ipswich the young Ardizzone explored the docks, met the sailors and established the memories which would later form the basis for his famous 'Little Tim' books. Edward was a natural artist and even though he left home and took a job as a clerk in London he studied art and life drawing at evening classes.

During the war Ardizzone was appointed Official War Artist by Sir Kenneth Clark (of ‘Civilization’ fame – an admirer and collector of Ardizzone’s work). He was sent first to France and then to the Middle East. But on his return trips to England he continued to illustrate and soon, with a children's book he created and which was published just before the War - ‘Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain’ he received international acclaim. In 1956 Ardizzone was to win the first Kate Greenaway medal for the pictures in the Tim books.

Ardizzone always maintained that the art of a children’s book illustrator was particularly good when it was created as much for the child within the illustrator, as for the child viewing the illustrations. And this, almost certainly, is why the Tim books have just as much appeal for adults as they do for children; and why, too, there is no condescension in either the writing or the illustrations for the books.

Here at The Fine Art Company you will find a collection of Edward Ardizzone illustrations taken from the 'Little Tim' books, faithfully reproduced as Limited Edition Giclee Prints. Pictures include 'Tim and the Brave Sea Captain' and 'Tim's Freind Towser', and they're ideal for a nursery or children's bedroom wall.