Celebrating 50 Years Of John Burningham

An upcoming exhibition is set to celebrate the work of writer/illustrator John Burningham. In the world of James Bond, Burningham is best known for his work illustrating Ian Fleming’s classic children’s adventure Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

‘Mr Gumpy and Other Outings: Celebrating 50 years of John Burningham’s Work’ will run at Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studios from 7 July to 5 September 2009.

Full details follow below:

Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

For over 50 years John Burningham has been writing and illustrating books for both acults and children and this exhibition will bring together some of his best-loved works for the first time in Europe.

Burningham began drawing at a young age and some of his early collages and sketches of Glaswegian life will be on display alongside information about his childhood. One of his earliest commissions was to design a series of posters for Transport for London to encourage people to take advantage of the many leisure activities London had to offer. All 8 of the posters will be on display. Burningham’s unique use of collage, photography and drawing can clearly be seen in all of them.

Mr Gumpy’s Outing and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, two of Burningham’s best-loved works, will take centre stage. In perparation for the exhibition, Dovecot Studios is producing a hand-tufted rug featuring a scene from Mr Gumpy’s Outing which will hang alongside original artwork from the book. In 1964 Burningham was approached to illustrate Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; his designs for the book including his original model of the car will be on display.

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