Exhibition Spotlight: The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists

Last summer, The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery welcomed The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists, a magical and vibrant exhibition packed to the brim with books and collectables dedicated to the artists who created the illustrations for Ladybird.

Welcome to the exhibition!
A series of collectable books which belonged to the Ladybird artists.

Ladybird – How it all began

Ladybird books have been a familiar fixture on children’s bookshelves since the 1950s, but few people are aware that they date back to the early days of World War II. Printing business Wills & Hepworth started the Ladybird journey, printing and publishing affordable children’s books, with the first notable one being Bunnikin’s Picnic Party, illustrated (and originally written) by Angusine MacGregor.

Soon more books came into development and different themes and series were covered. History, Nature and the Environment, Jobs and Technology and the beloved Fairy Tale classics transported readers into a land of wonder, learning and play.

A collection of the first Ladybird books

The Peter and Jane series

One of the most successful ventures for Ladybird was the Peter and Jane series, or the Key Words Reading Scheme, first published in 1964, which some readers may remember. The 36 books forming the reading scheme were divided into 12 colour-coded levels and took a child from first words to confident reading. The reading scheme was the brainchild of artist Douglas Keen, who had been fascinated by research into the most effective approaches to teaching reading.

Close-up of a selection of classroom posters for the Key Words Reading Scheme

What was your favourite Ladybird book?

Did you have a favourite Ladybird book when you were growing up? Was it The Little Red Hen or On the Railways? Maybe you can spot one which you remember from our amazing book display featured in the exhibition.

The Wonderful World of Ladybird Book Artists book display

Did you know that the majority of the illustrations within the Ladybird books were modelled on real people and the environments close to the artists? This is how the artists achieved photorealism within the books.

Jane’s pram, which was owned by the original Jane, Jill Ashurst.
An example of how an illustration was created and modelled by Robert Lumley, who cleverly illustrated the Ladybird book, The Gingerbread Boy.

Coming soon, we'll have the second of our exhibition spotlights on the Ladybird book artists, plus some activities you can try at home.


If you have enjoyed Culture on Call and you are able to make a donation, please click the link below. Any support you can give will help us keep communities connected to culture in these difficult times.

Donate Now | Hampshire Cultural Trust
Our venues are safe and inclusive spaces that provide great cultural experiences at the heart of our communities and connect everyone to Hampshire’s rich heritage.We welcome over 700,000 visitors to our venues each year and also work with over 2,000 people annually who are vulnerable or who otherwi…
This article was written by:
Author image

Hampshire Cultural Trust

From museums to galleries to arts centres, we manage and support attractions across the county, welcoming over 740,000 people each year. Our charitable purpose is changing lives through culture.
You've successfully subscribed to Culture on Call
Great! Next, complete checkout for full access to Culture on Call
Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.
Success! Your account is fully activated, you now have access to all content.