Shirley Hughes & Friends
shirleyhughes.bsky.social
Shirley Hughes & Friends
@shirleyhughes.bsky.social
We will be posting from Shirley’s books and archive, along with news and updates.
Pinned
A warm welcome from Shirley Hughes & Friends!
We have thrilling news, and a date for your diaries… ‘Ella’s Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella’, based on Shirley’s original story, is coming to the stage on July 3rd - 6th at The Peacock Theatre in London.
Not to be missed. Tickets here!
www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/ell...
Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella - London Children's Ballet - Peacock Theatre - Sadler's Wells
Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella - London Children's Ballet - Peacock Theatre - Sadler's Wells
www.sadlerswells.com
May 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
What a TREAT! Lauren Bravo’s wonderfully warm and charming piece on Mum’s mums is published in the Observer today.
observer.co.uk/style/fashio...
What should a mother wear? Shirley Hughes, my style icon
A mother finds a solution to her postnatal style crisis in the beloved books of childhood
observer.co.uk
May 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
‘Bathwater’s hot, seawater’s cold, Ginger’s kittens are very young, but Buster’s getting old.’ One of my very favourite pages from Shirley’s books, from the Nursery Collection.
April 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Today - Shirley’s cats! This is Mopsa (and her kittens), who belongs to Lucy and Tom.
April 27, 2025 at 9:13 AM
(continued)
I like to think Shirley was at her very happiest, in a shaded garden with a glass of wine and her sketchbook, doing what she loved most.
April 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
The last of our sketchbook showcase: plein air paintings, mostly from Italy.
April 20, 2025 at 9:49 AM
… as well as Lucy and Tom’s house. Both sketched in West London - Hammersmith (Alfie) and North Kensington (Lucy and Tom).
April 17, 2025 at 1:58 PM
So lovely to discover the prototype sketches for Alfie’s house, and front door - famously slammed shut in Alfie Gets in First…
April 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
What you’ll notice most of all is how fleeting and lightning-quick Shirley’s drawings are, full of warmth, vitality and humour.
April 15, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A selection of Shirley’s sketchbook drawings, of particular interest we hope to anyone entering the Sketchbook Award in collaboration with Orange Beak, celebrating observational drawing of people, especially children and families. Good luck, sketchbookers - can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to!
April 15, 2025 at 9:18 AM
School holidays AND the Shirley Hughes Sketchbook Award with @orangebeak.bsky.social? A perfect excuse to showcase Shirley’s own sketchbooks. More to follow during this week!
April 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This glorious weather just goes on and on! Three of our favourite illustrations and poems: Purple, from Colours; Sunshine at Bedtime and Spring Greens, from Out and About; both part of The Nursery Collection published by Walker Books.
April 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A moment to admire headscarves in the life and work of Shirley Hughes. First image is from Dogger; second and third are photos of her in the mid 60’s. We think of Shirley as immensely stylish in later life, in her pink coat and wonderful hats, but how about as a young mum herself? You can decide!
April 3, 2025 at 7:47 AM
(continued)
After we - Shirley’s children - had signed with The Agency, we strolled down to this park with our new agent Jessica Hare. It’s just around the corner from their office - how neatly it is all meant to be. So, here were are: left to right, Clara, Jessica, Ed and Tom!
April 2, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Shirley’s playground illustrations are an absolute tour de force. This is from Helpers, published in 1975, inspired by Avondale Park in Notting Hill. We would play here after school, and Mum brought her sketchbook along. We all remember the fierce lavatory attendant!
April 2, 2025 at 7:53 AM
📣 and we have NEWS! The Shirley Hughes Estate has signed up with Jessica Hare at The Agency! An exciting new chapter begins, and what a dream pairing - we couldn’t be more thrilled.

www.thebookseller.com/news/the-age...
The Agency signs the estate of author-illustrator Shirley Hughes
The Shirley Hughes Estate has signed with Jessica Hare at The Agency to “conserve the legacy” of the author-illustrator and Dogger creator.
www.thebookseller.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Up and going properly here now! Our new name, Shirley Hughes and Friends, is inspired by a poster that Shirley had pinned up in her workroom for many years. One of her granddaughters noticed how, even though it had faded over time in the direct sunlight, ‘and friends’ remains clear and bright.
April 1, 2025 at 7:29 AM
A warm welcome from Shirley Hughes & Friends!
February 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM