Raymond Briggs' illustrations go on show in Sussex

An exhibition featuring never-seen-before artworks from The Snowman illustrator, Raymond Briggs, will open in East Sussex on Saturday.

More than 100 original artworks from the late author's estate, as well as 30 of his personal items, will be showcased at Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft from 27 April to 27 October.

Briggs, whose titles also include Father Christmas, died at the age of 88 in 2022.

The items and artworks have been taken from his home, which was a mile from the museum in the village of Westmeston.

As well as artwork from 1970s classics The Snowman and Father Christmas, works from his Fungus the Bogeyman and When the Wind Blows will also feature.

His writing and drawing desk, which he used for over 40 years, will also go on display.

The museum said some of items showed Briggs' "playful response" to his own fame, including a framed Private Eye edition from 1993 riffing on The Snowman.

Private correspondence that he kept over the decades will also be included, from children who wrote to him, to an adult from the United States who criticised him in 1975 for portraying Santa Claus as "performing an act of personal hygiene".

Never-before-seen works include artwork for Father Christmas on Holiday.

Steph Fuller, director at the museum, said it had been "a privilege" to be invited by Briggs’ estate to visit his home and select items for the exhibition.  

"Being in his studio amongst his drawing materials, family photographs and notes to self, it feels as though he might have just stepped out and could return at any moment.  I hope we’re able to convey something of that feeling to visitors.”

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