Gruffalo laureate opens tour at Bonhoga

SHETLAND’S Bonhoga Gallery is to be the first venue for an exhibition of contemporary children’s book illustrations being curated by newly appointed Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson.

Donaldson, who was only appointed as the UK’s seventh Children’s Laureate this month, is best known for The Gruffalo, but has 150 children’s titles under her belt.

This week Shetland Arts heard the Bonhoga will be the first place to host the exhibition “The Illustrator”, which starts its UK tour in August after receiving rave reviews at its original venue, Falkirk’s Park Gallery.

The show includes original works by contemporary illustrators, examples of preparatory work – sketches, ideas and a unique display of illustrated envelopes by Donaldson’s collaborator Axel Scheffler.

The Bonhoga exhibition opens on Saturday 20 August and runs until Sunday 25 September, coinciding with the Wordplay book festival.