Nick Sharratt Brings His Famous Characters to Whitehaven
Sarah Sinclair meets some familiar faces from her childhood, as Nick Sharratt brings his famous characters to Whitehaven.
Looking at Nick Sharratt’s drawings takes me on a trip down memory lane. There’s ‘The Illustrated Mum’, ‘Vicky Angel’ and of course, ‘Tracy Beaker’, among all the other characters I grew up alongside. Looking at them, large as life, it’s as if no time has passed since I was hungrily devouring page after page of best selling books by Jacqueline Wilson. She wrote about uncomfortable topics, adoption, death, divorce and mental health and the characters were so vivid, I experienced it all with them, but still, I couldn’t get enough.
Who would have thought, all these years later I would be speaking to the man whose illustrations helped to create those very characters, ahead of his visit to The Beacon Museum this February? World renowned children’s artist, Nick Sharratt is a bestselling author and illustrator in his own right, having illustrated over 200 books and penned many of his own.
His partnership with Jacqueline Wilson – for whom he has illustrated more than 40 books, including Tracy Beaker, which sold over 35 million copies worldwide – began 25 years ago. Nick explained: “Jacqueline and I were put together by an editor who we had both worked for separately. He thought I might be a good illustrator to work on the story of Tracy Beaker and I’m delighted that Jackie thought I could do the job. We’ve been working together for quarter of a century, in fact I’m working on a book of hers at this very minute.”
Jacqueline’s books and beloved characters are all featured in the touring exhibition, Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants, on display at The Beacon Museum from 24 February – 15 April. The exhibition tells the story of Nick’s life’s work, from boyhood to the current day, as an illustrator and author.
He said: “I’ve always wanted to be an artist, ever since I was at primary school. I was lucky enough to get quite a lot of encouragement in my school days, which is really important for children who like art. That gave me the confidence to think that perhaps I could do it for a job one day.”
His own favourite books growing up were Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Giant Jam Sandwich, and today he still takes inspiration from his own childhood, as well as from the children he speaks to and the world around him. He said: “When I write my books, I just want to create a book that is going to entertain and amuse the reader…There’ll be lots of elements to the book that make it a really fun read.
A good book is something Nick believes, can’t ever be replaced by the virtual world. “There’s room for digital imagery, but there’s nothing like sharing a real book with a child or a friend”, he said. “The whole feel, texture of the book and the turning of the pages together, it can’t be improved on.”
Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants will examine how Nick creates his illustrations using various methods, from wax crayons and paint, to collage and computers. Packed with interactive activities, from dressing up, to drawing, it’s a chance to meet characters you know, some you don’t and even to invent your own. Nick explained: “I’m hoping it will stimulate children’s imaginations and hopefully they will come away wanting to do lots of reading, drawing and creative thinking.
“Using your imagination is just such a fantastic thing to do. I’m always keen to encourage drawing as an artist, because I think it sometimes gets overlooked. To be able to draw is a fantastic thing to do. It involves all kinds of thought processes and has all kinds of benefits and advantages.”
But if you thought picture books were just for children, you would be mistaken. “Picture books are for all ages. I’m very against the idea that once you are a competent reader you shouldn’t look at picture books anymore”, he said. “Any aged person can get a lot of pleasure and enjoyment from looking at picture books. Pictures are very important. Pictures are for everybody.”
Nick will be signing books and inspiring budding local artists at The Beacon Museum on Saturday 24 February for the launch of Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants.
For more information visit www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk
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