| The
Charles
Tunnicliffe Society Established 2005 "To promote greater awareness of the life and work of Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe OBE, RA 1901-1979" |
 |
Tunnicliffe's working relationship with Henry Williamson began in the early
1930s when Charles Tunnicliffe submitted several aquatints to enquire
about the possibility securing a commision to illustrate 'Tarka the Otter'.
The publisher like the aquatints but said that they were too finely detailed
and wood engravings with less detail would be more suitable for printing
an illustrated version of 'Tarka', which was later published in 1932.
Tunnicliffe went to Devon to meet Williamson, and to explore the background
to the story of'Tarka', making sketches and notes to help him create wood
engravings for the book. It is said that at the end of each dayTunnicliffe
stayed up late to complete reference sketches for possible illustrations.
Most of Tunicliffe's illustrations for Willamson were black & white wood
engravings, but for a 1935 edition of 'Salar the Salmon' Charles painted
16 full-page colour illustrations, as well a larger one for the dust wrapper.
More information about life and work of Henry Williamson can be found
on The Henry Williamson Society's website www.henrywilliamson.co.uk