About the Book…
Discover the wonder and joy of nature with this gorgeous collection of artwork from celebrated mid-century artist, Eileen Soper.
Originally created to accompany Enid Blyton’s Nature Readers series, these stunning illustrations perfectly capture the intricate landscapes, flora and fauna of the natural world. This beautifully packaged collection showcases twenty-two reproductions of the highly collectable ‘Nature Plates’ alongside the story of Eileen Soper’s fascinating life, and quotes from her nature writings and diaries.
Printed on sturdy, high-quality A4 card, each picture can be pulled out and framed, or the book can be read from start to finish to learn all about Eileen Soper’s extraordinary life, her love of nature and her celebrated artistic career. Eileen Soper: The Wonder of Nature is a must-have for collectors, art lovers and new fans alike.
About the Author…
Joy Baker is co-founder of The Soper Collection, set up to preserve the artwork and legacy of the Soper family. Joy taught in New Zealand, before returning to England with her late husband, John, the other co-founder, to run their own antique shop and art gallery. The large collection of artwork comprising The Soper Collection, amassed over a period of thirty years, is now housed at Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby where it is available for all to enjoy.
Eileen Soper (1905–1990) is regarded as one of the leading children’s illustrators of the 1940s and 1950s. Daughter of renowned artist, George Soper, her artistic prowess showed from an early age, and at fifteen years old she became the youngest person to have artwork exhibited at the Royal Academy. Over the course of her long career, she illustrated many books – most notably Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series – created hundreds of pieces of art, and wrote children’s picture books, poetry and nature books. After her death, her house, Wildings, was cleared, revealing a treasure trove of hundreds of paintings and illustrations, as well as families of mice and birds who had made their homes in the rooms of the house.
