Original picture book artwork by Marcia Williams is available for purchase from Children’s Book Illustration.
“Williams is one of our very best retellers of the classics.” The Independent on Sunday
Marcia Williams has written and illustrated numerous books since The First Christmas was published in 1987. Many of these have been retellings of classic stories – from the Greek Myths to Shakespeare – illustrated in her distinctive comic-strip style. Marcia recently created Archie’s War, a child’s scrapbook of WW1 and Flossie’s Secret War Diary, an account of WW11 as seen through the eyes of young Flossie Albright. Both books have won awards and inspired many children to create their own scrapbooks and diaries.
When working on a new book, Marcia’s first aim is to develop a strong story that can be read aloud even without the pictures. Once the story is in place, the pictures, bubble text and humour have the strong roots needed to hold the book together. Marcia did a watercolour course at Richmond College and works mainly in that medium, although she has recently been experimenting with everything from crayon to collage.
Marcia lives in London and Lyme Regis with her dogs, Gracie and Archer. She has two grown-up children and four grandchildren. Marcia has an MA in Children’s Literature and is a Fellow of the English Association and is particularly keen to make reading and visual literacy accessible to children of all interests and abilities. She enjoys visiting schools, where she shares her enthusiasm for books with a wide range of children. She is also a regular speaker at universities, festivals and
other book events.
You can find out more about Marcia from her very own website by clicking on www.marciawilliams.co.uk
ILLUSTRATIONS
Please click on image to enlarge and view details of size, price etc.
Below are some detailed images from Oliver Twist. Please click on them to enlarge for better viewing.
At Last
Oliver Twist and other great Dickens stories, first published in 2002 by Walker Books Ltd. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities, all retold in Marcia’s exuberant comic-strip style.
“Each story is told with vivid imagination and lively language – a great introduction to some classic stories.” Junior Magazine
We are selling all of the stories listed above as complete sets although I am just showing the work from Oliver Twist below. (Please contact me to view the other stories, there just isn’t the space to show them all here). Some of the stories are made up of just three spreads, others, like the story of Oliver Twist below, are made up of five spreads.
These are significant pieces of work, which will require plenty of wall space, making them ideal for schools, libraries or other public spaces – or for individuals passionate about Dickens!
Marcia’s magic is in the detail, and I am only sorry that I can’t do her illustrations justice in the thumbnails below.
Please click on the images to enlarge them or better still, click on the SLIDESHOW tab at the top of the page.
In reality the ten images shown below are five spreads, each measuring approximately 320mm x 520mm. I’m afraid that until my website hosts can sort things out, the images are out of sequence! Apologies! Please try and imagine the a&b;’s together making up a full spread. We also have the book cover as shown more clearly below.
The Amazing Story of Noah’s Ark, retold and illustrated by Marcia Williams. First published 1988 by Walker Books Ltd.
The Adventures of Robin Hood, retold and illustrated by Marcia Williams. First published 1995 by Walker Books.
It is very difficult to see the exquisite detail of Marcia’s work clearly on the website I’m afraid, despite my attempts to show details from the four pictures available, which are; Robin’s Last Arrow, The Golden Arrow, Friar Tuck and Robin Get’s a Ducking, plus the cover detail.
Marcia Williams
BIBLIOGRAPHY
You can now easily buy or find out more about some of Marcia’s books by clicking on those that are highlighted. You will be taken directly to the publisher’s website but can return quickly by clicking on “Back”
The First Christmas, first published 1987 by Walker Books Ltd
The Amazing Story of Noah’s Ark, first published 1988 by Walker Books Ltd
When I Was Little, first published 1989 by Walker Books Ltd
Jonah and the Whale, first published 1989 by Walker Books Ltd
Joseph and his Magnificent Coat of Many Colours, first published 1990 by Walker Books Ltd
No Worries!, (Not a Worry in the World) first published 1990 by Walker Books Ltd
Greek Myths for Young Children, first published 1991 by Walker Books Ltd
Don Quixote, first published 1993 by Walker Books Ltd
Sinbad the Sailor, first published 1994 by Walker Books Ltd
The Adventures of Robin Hood, first published 1995 by Walker Books Ltd
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, first published 1996 by Walker Books Ltd
The Iliad and the Odyssey, first published 1996 by Walker Books Ltd
Mr. WilliamShakespeare’s Plays, first published 1998 by Walker Books Ltd
Fabulous Monsters, first published 1999 by Walker Books Ltd
Bravo, Mr. William Shakespeare! , first published 2000 by Walker Books Ltd
Charles Dickens and Friends, first published 2002 by Walker Books Ltd
God and His Creations, first published 2004 by Walker Books Ltd
Three Cheers For Inventors!, first published 2005 by Walker Books Ltd
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, first published 2007 by Walker Books Ltd
Archie’s War first published 2007 by Walker Books Ltd