Explore the artworks of Narrative Textiles by Ailsh Henderson and Wild Yarn by Imogen Bright Moon, in two new exhibitions featuring at The Batsford Gallery this autumn.
Narrative Textiles by Ailsh Henderson
Narrative Textiles is an exploration of memory, sentiment and the stains of life. In works of mixed media, stitch and cloth, the artist documents her own personal narrative, its encounters and experiences interwoven within it.
Narrative Textiles the book. showcases these works in finer detail and encourages readers to draw on their own personal memorabilia and to uncover their own unique stories, as told through cloth.
WHEN
The exhibition will be showing from Thursday 10 October – Sunday 20 October.
The will be a workshop taught by the artist on Saturday 12 October.
Wild Yarn by Imogen Bright Moon is a showcase of the artist’s intricately woven textile works, which she blends herself. Imogen’s pieces reflect her British Romani heritage and they seek to engage with dialogues on the importance of using sustainable and ethical materials alongside working seasonally.
Wild Yarn the book, archives Imogen’s work and encourages readers to create their own textures and artisanal yarn. It features beautiful photography exploring the inner workings of Imogen’s studio space along with the details of her textile works.
WHEN
The Exhibition will be showing from Friday 25 October – Saturday 2 November.
On Saturday 2 November, the artist will be working in the gallery space from 12pm, there will be an author talk from 2–4pm and finnisage from 5–7pm.
Artwork by Ailsh Henderson and Imogen Bright Moon.
We’re very excited to announce this year’s edition of the Batsford Instagram Textile Takeover! From 26 September until 9 October, we’ll be celebrating Batsford’s upcoming and most recent textile books over at our Instagram account. Over two days, each author will introduce themselves, their work and their book. You’ll also have a chance to win all six books! Featuring leading textile artists:
Make sure to follow us on Instagram @batsfordbooks and keep an eye on the hashtag #batsfordtextiles to follow the takeover.
Celebrate the launch of Unforgettable Gardens with three exciting online talks hosted by
The Gardens Trust.
Unforgettable Gardensexplores the history of British garden design through some of the most beautiful, intriguing, unusual and important gardens, parks and landscapes in the UK, with stunning photography accompanied by insightful profiles from leading garden historians and conservators.
Curated by The Gardens Trust, the UK conservation charity dedicated to protecting, researching and celebrating historic gardens, this book is intended to inform, inspire and encourage everyone to enjoy, visit and support our national heritage of parks and gardens. In these three talks, discover some of the book’s fascinating landscapes in finer detail, with words from contributors and gardening experts.
WHEN
Week 1. 15 October: the Bobarts and Oxford Botanic Garden with India Cole.
Week 2. 22 October: Margery Fish and East Lambrook Manor with Catherine Horwood.
Week 3. 29 October: Castle Howard with Sally Jeffery.
WHERE
Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the first talk and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.
PRICE
Tickets may be purchased for individual talks, at £8 each or £21 for all three. (Gardens Trust members can buy tickets for £6 each or all three for £15.75). Tickets for all three events can be purchased here.
An exciting opportunity has arisen at B. T. Batsford for a bookseller at our Hackney Road shop and gallery for a 6-month fixed term, starting at the end of October 2024.
Pay: £12 per hour Hours: Saturdays and Sundays 10.30am – 6pm
Job Description: As a bookseller at B.T. Batsford you will be an important member of a small team at our shop and gallery space on Hackney Road, E3. You will be customers’ first point of contact and will help them choose the perfect book, gift or card. You will work with our shop and gallery managers to oversee our events programme.
You will have training to work on a till, processing delivery, shelving books and keeping the space (including the stockroom) neat and tidy. As our shop is so small, you will mostly be working on the floor alone.
Previous retail experience is a bonus but is not necessary. What is more important is a passion for books and outstanding customer service.
This will be a 2 days per week role.
If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, please send your CV and a covering letter to jobs@batsfordbooks.com by 30 September 2024.
James Kellow (pictured right) appointed new MD of BT Batsford as David Graham (left) steps down.
David Graham will be stepping down from his role as Managing Director at Batsford Books at the end of 2024. David joined Batsford, then part of Pavilion Books, as MD in 2014. Over the past decade, he has led the company through many publishing successes, including the Millie Marotta’s colouring books which have sold 10 million copies worldwide, multiple IPG awards, the acquisition of Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers and re-establishing the newly independent Batsford as a vibrant and innovative publisher after the acquisition of its parent company Pavilion Books by HarperCollins in 2021.
Newly appointed to the role of Managing Director at Batsford, James Kellow starts in October and will be joining the company at Frankfurt Book Fair. James has 30 years of publishing experience in the UK and Australia. He was marketing director at Fourth Estate, before becoming sales director at Penguin. In 2008 he moved to Australia, becoming CEO of HarperCollins ANZ in 2012 until 2020, when he founded Sydney’s newest independent publisher, Ultimo Press. He was simultaneously President of the Australian Publishers Association until relocating back to the UK in 2023.
James Kellow said: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Batsford Books. As one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious independent publishing houses, they have made an important contribution to the cultural record, and I look forward to working with everyone on this exciting new stage of evolution, development and growth.’
David Graham said: ‘I’ve had a terrific time leading the brilliant team at Batsford over the past ten years. Following the acquisition of Scala and its successful integration into the Batsford family we now have a sound and balanced business set for a secure and prosperous future. I shall miss working with my talented and committed colleagues here but am looking forward to returning to Scotland to develop a range of projects in and around and for the Scottish publishing scene. I am pleased to continue my connection with Batsford as a non-executive director and am delighted to be putting the leadership of the business into the extremely capable hands of James.’
Polly Powell, owner of Batsford said: ‘I feel very privileged to have worked with David over the years and Scotland’s gain is our loss. I have known and respected James for many years and I am delighted that he is joining us here at Batsford and Scala, two remarkable companies that go from strength to strength.’
Discover the importance of keeping myths, legends and folktales alive with author
Rosalind Kerven and The Folklore Society.
Join The Folklore Society and author Rosalind Kerven for an online talk exploring the wonders of folklore, its importance and the developing studies around it today. Rosalind will use examples from her numerous books, including the recently published Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends, of world traditional stories to illustrate the various issues raised.
Discover:
What exactly are folktales, fairy tales, myths and legends? What is the difference between the various categories.
Do they belong exclusively to the country or people from which they originate; or are they part of universal human culture?
How can the researcher / re-teller identify the most ‘authentic’ versions of such stories?
Should they be studied as historical entities set in stone? Or should folklorists encourage their continuing development in the modern age, as new people from each generation retell them?
How should the re-teller adapt the ‘original’ version of the story for modern audiences?
If the story was collected directly from an oral recount, how should this translate to a written version? Should it be reproduced verbatim, even when that makes it difficult to digest on the page; or should it be reworked into a more ‘literary’ format?
What are the ethical aspects of retelling traditional tales? For example, when working with a story from a different historical era, should the re-teller omit or change aspects which offend modern sensibilities? Is it acceptable for someone from one culture to retell stories from a totally different culture?
Rosalind Kerven is a folklorist and the author of over 70 books published in 22 countries. She has a specialist knowledge of world myths, legends and folk tales and is on a mission to bring these wonderful tales alive for new generations of readers. Her other bestselling titles include , Arthurian Legends, English Fairy Tales and Legends and Arthurian Tales. She lives in the Northumberland National Park.
Discover more of Rosalind Kerven’s titles below.
An exciting opportunity has arisen at B.T. Batsford for a Marketing & Publicity Manager to lead the company’s marketing and publicity department for a 12-month fixed term to cover a period of parental leave, starting in January 2025.
Founded in 1843, B.T. Batsford is an award-winning independent illustrated publisher. We publish about 40 beautiful, illustrated books a year across a diverse range of non-fiction categories including Architecture and Design, Nature, Gardening and Lifestyle, Craft and Textile Art, Poetry and Literary Gift, Heritage and Folklore. This role will primarily work with Batsford’s list, but also with titles published by our sister imprint Scala Arts & Heritage Publishing.
Primary responsibilities include:
Running all stages of multi-channel book marketing and publicity campaigns and other company marketing activities, from strategic planning to delivery, including working with publicity, marketing materials, metadata, social media, newsletters, websites and events
Working closely with internal and external teams and stakeholders, both in the UK and in the USA
Developing close working practices with colleagues in sales, editorial, design as well as sales distributors, authors and agents
Line-management of Marketing & Publicity Executive
Attending and contributing to the regular publishing and covers meetings
Marketing budget management
Managing Batsford’s yearly student award The Batsford Prize
Attending and organising a variety of trade fairs throughout the year
The ideal candidate will have several years’ experience of working in senior roles in book marketing and publicity, ideally with extensive experience of the illustrated non-fiction market. They will also be a great communicator with creative flair and a track record of producing successful, high-profile and book-selling campaigns. Proficiency in WordPress, Mailchimp, Amazon and Meta advertising platforms, InDesign, Photoshop and working with SEO and metadata is essential.
This will be a 4 days per week role. Batsford operates a hybrid working schedule, working three days a week in our central London office.
If you’re interested in this exciting opportunity, please send your CV and a covering letter and stating current or most recent salary to jobs@batsfordbooks.com by 23 September 2024.
We’re delighted to announce that Brutalist Britain has been shortlisted in the SAHGB Colvin Prize 2024!
The SAHGB Colvin Prize celebrates outstanding works of reference in architectural history. Its 2024 shortlist features this fascinating look into an architectural era so fundamental to Britain’s post-war landscape, written by the late Elain Harwood and published in collaboration with Twentieth Century Society.
More about Brutalist Britain.
Introducing Britain’s finest examples of brutalist architecture.
Brutalist architecture is more popular now than it has ever been. Imposing and dramatic, with monolithic concrete exteriors, it forms an enduring part of our post-war urban landscape. This beautifully photographed book is an authoritative survey of the finest British examples from the very late 1950s to the 1970s, from leading architectural writer Elain Harwood, following on from her acclaimed books on art deco and mid-century architecture.
It features iconic public buildings like London’s National Theatre, imposing housing such as the Trellick Tower in West London and Park Hill in Sheffield, great educational institutions including the University of Sussex, and places of worship such as Liverpool’s glorious Metropolitan Cathedral, along with some lesser-known buildings such as Arlington House on Margate’s sea front.
Headed up with an introduction that places British brutalism within the context of global events and contemporary world architecture, the huge range of buildings is arranged into Private Houses and Flats, Public Housing, Educational Buildings, Public Buildings, Shops, Markets and Town Centres, Culture and Sport, Places of Worship, Offices and Industry and Transport, and there is a chapter on the atmospheric brutalist sculptures and murals that dot our cities.
We’re delighted that Sea Pools by Chris Romer-Lee is a winner in the Architectural Book Awards 2024.
Featuring 66 saltwater sanctuaries from around the world, Sea Pools was declared joint winner in the Monograph Category in the Architectural Book Awards. The awards were announced at an event at Maggie’s Barts this week, where shortlisted authors and publishers got together to celebrate. The Architectural Book Awards is now in its second year running and is organised by Booklaunch magazine.
The judges said: ‘As judges, we thought we know the range of books we would be assessing this year, but Chris Romer Lee’s took us by surprise. We were delighted by the geographical ambition of the author’s book and by the sufficiency of his research’
Read the full write-up about Sea Pools and explore the other winners in the new edition of Booklaunch Magazine.
In addition to Sea Pools, the following books from Batsford and Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers were shortlisted in the awards:
Sydney Opera House by Peter Gibson and Sam Doust in the Travelogue category.
More about Sea Pools
A celebration of sea swimming – looking at the architecture, history and social significance of sea pools around the world.
The sea can be challenging and changeable. Protected from the dangers of currents, crashing waves and extreme cold, sea pools (also known as tidal or ocean pools) are manmade pools that provide a safe space for swimmers to enjoy the benefits of the sea at all states of the tide and weather.
Sea Pools begins with an introduction to sea pools within the history of outdoor swimming, their unique designs and architectural significance and commentary on the resurgent appreciation for sea swimming in the 21st century. Chris Romer-Lee selects 66 of the most beautiful and culturally significant sea pools from around the world, including the 25-metre cliffside Avalon Rock Pool in new South Wales, Australia, the sublime Pozo de las Calcosas in Spain that is shrouded in volcanic rock, and Ireland’s historic Vico Baths to name but a few.
Sea Pools also includes four insightful essays: Nicola Larkin looks to the next generation of ocean pools in her exploration of how we can conserve, protect and regenerate the coastline; Therese Spruhan testifies to the healing and transformative benefits of ocean swimming; Freya Bromley discusses her odyssey to swim in every sea pool in Britain; and Kevin Fellingham reflects on the importance of sea pools in South Africa.
The book is illustrated throughout with beautiful colour photography, as well as fascinating archive material to give an insight into the provenance of these vital sanctuaries.
A journey through 20th and 21st century railway architecture and design.
As more of us are avoiding planes for environmental reasons, travelling and discovering new places by train is becoming more appealing.
Visit Stanford Travel Bookshop for an evening with Christopher Beanland talking about his new book Station, and 50 of the world’s most remarkable train stations.
Here to satisfy the appetite of travellers, architecture aficionados and rail enthusiasts alike, Christopher Beanland’s new book is a glorious global celebration of modern railway architecture.
From understated Art Deco glamour and sleek Brutalism to stylish shipping container solutions and riotous Post modernism, stops along the way include train stations, but also subways and signal boxes Featured is LA’s iconic Union Station, the verdant Atocha Station in Madrid and Warsaw’s spectacular modernist stations, as well as less familiar examples such as Saudi Arabia’s high-speed Haramain Line, the joyous monorail at Walt Disney World Resort and Mexico’s anticipated Tren Maya.
The book also contains essays by architecture and travel writers on topics including hanging railways in Germany and Japan, the intriguing architecture and design of Berlin’s U-Bahn stations and the joy of interrailing.
Illustrated with glorious photographs throughout, this stylish and contemporary book is a celebration of modern railway architecture at its best.
WHERE:
Stanfords Travel Bookshop.7 Mercer Walk Covent Garden WC2H 9FA
Discover Station and Christopher Beanland’s other titles below.
The Batsford Prize 2024
Last Wednesday 29 May Batsford were delight to announce the winners and runners up of the Batsford Prize 2024 (Theme: Gravity)!
The awards evening took place at The Batsford Gallery, where the four winners and eight runners up of this year’s award were announced and an exhibition of the full shortlist will unveiled.
In his opening speech, Vaughan Grylls, Batsford Chairman and one of the award’s judges, commended all the shortlisted entries and joked about how particularly fishy this year’s entries were!
The winning entries were ‘Unravelled’ by Rose Cordery (Applied Arts & Textiles), ‘Breeding Migration made-in…’ by Yijing Ze (Fine Art), ‘Oh Crumbs’ by Naomi Tipping (Illustration), ‘Fishy Friday’ by Charlotte Durance (Children’s Illustration). The winners each received a £300 cash prize and £300 worth of books for their college.
The Batsford Prize 2024 was judged by industry professionals Eoghan O’Brien, Neil Dunnicliffe, Frida Green, Vaughan Grylls & Anne Kelly.
Our winners & runner’s up for this year:
WINNER OF APPLIED ART & TEXTILES & OVERALL WINNER:
Unravelled
Rose Cordery, BA (Hons) Textiles, Arts University Bournemouth
‘Unravelled’ is a collection that embodies a sense of unravelling tension under both a conceptual and literal sense of gravity. The collection aims to communicate a cathartic release from the systemic oppression of women.
RUNNER’S UP:
Rock Formations
Hannah Elliott, BA (Hons) Textiles, Arts University Bournemouth
My project has been about rock formations and how the different ranges of rocks to cliffs have inspired my collection to a contrasting colour palette to multiple textures explored.
Still Life
Ella Nathan, BA (Hons) Textiles, Arts University Bournemouth
An Interior collection of printed fabrics, papers and tiles which uses gestural marks and painterly qualities to interpret a principal genre of Western Art in a contemporary manner. Bold shapes and colours have been explored through digital, screen, UV and lino print.
Zijing Ye, MFA Sculpture, Slade School of Fine Arts
The artwork contrasts borderless existence with farmed salmon’s confinement, exploring freedom and identity through foreign foods. The artwork challenges the unitary classification standard of nationality identity, probing societal constraints on freedom despite universal yearning.
RUNNER’S UP:
Food, Connection, Potato
Kaya Lambie, Fine Art & Philosophy, Duncan of Jordanstone
The domestic dwelling which tie welcoming togetherness through sharing around the dinner table, with the weight of human connection binding all parties together to create spaces in time which are little thought of, but greatly valued.
Time’s Fall
Joanna Cohn, MA Print, Royal College of Art
This is an image of the inside of the neolithic caves at Nerja. It is a combination of stalactites and stalagmites, where the two grow a millimetre per hundred years, until they almost touch. The formation is the slow fall of hundreds of thousands of years of gravity pulled drips
WINNER OF THE ILLUSTRATION CATEGORY:
Oh Crumbs
Naomi Tipping, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University
A picture book on the theme of dementia.
RUNNER’S UP:
Falling for You
Tom Melin, Graphic Design, Nottingham Trent University
This project explores the relationship between humans and gravity in a playful manner.
KISS
Yu-An Xie, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University
This is a gift book for adult audience to read and send to their loved ones. Love is like the gravity that pulls people towards where they belong and whom they feel safe with. The book shows different types of kisses to tell a story about a long-distance relationship.
Charlotte Durance, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University
Fishy Friday is a book which depicts a big drama in a small community. The humour lies in the gravity of the situation for the villagers as their sleepy village is turned upside down.
RUNNER’S UP:
Honest Olive
Rose Grover, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University
This picture book was created for 3-7 year olds. It tells the story of a well-meaning child who tells her first lie, which comes to life and causes her endless trouble. When she realises the gravity of the situation, she strives to put it right.
Marigolds
Aditi Anand, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University
Marigolds is an attempt to highlight the gravity of child labour in India. It’s a story about lost childhoods, thus serving as a window into a world that may be different from the readers’.
The Batsford Prize 2024 Exhibition is showing at The Batsford Gallery until Sunday 9 June.
We’re delighted to announce that four books from Batsford and three books from Scala Arts & Publishers have been shortlisted for the Architectural Book Awards organised by Booklaunch.
The Architectural Book Awards are intended to recognise excellence in books about architecture written in the English language.
