The Illustration Cupboard

Yesterday another new art gallery opened in London, the third I've covered in a month. This latest is at 22 Bury Street, SW1Y 6AL, a new home for an existing firm: The Illustration Cupboard. This is Britain’s only specialist dealer in contemporary book illustration, which, on the whole, means children's books. Over 100 artists from all over the world are represented, including the brilliant Shirley Hughes, who writes and illustrates the charming Alfie books. Now concentrate. The gallery's inaugural exhibition is the dealer's 11th Annual Winter Exhibition, which continues until 31 January 2007. Family visits welcome; 300 artworks on display; and it's free. This weekend, 25 to 26 November, there will be book signings at 2pm by Babette Cole (plus storytelling) and 3.30pm by Bruce Ingman (Saturday) and 2pm by Emma Chichester Clark (Sunday). For details and an online exhibition - Shirley Hughes: 25 Years of Alfie - click the title link (good Flash Player routine).