‘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.

Today - Shirley’s cats! This is Mopsa (and her kittens), who belongs to Lucy and Tom.

In ours too! There’s a new board book edition of these four - the same or very slightly shortened for the format…

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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.

The last of our sketchbook showcase: plein air paintings, mostly from Italy.

… as well as Lucy and Tom’s house. Both sketched in West London - Hammersmith (Alfie) and North Kensington (Lucy and Tom).

So lovely to discover the prototype sketches for Alfie’s house, and front door - famously slammed shut in Alfie Gets in First…

What you’ll notice most of all is how fleeting and lightning-quick Shirley’s drawings are, full of warmth, vitality and humour.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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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!

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!

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.

A warm welcome from Shirley Hughes & Friends!