Greeting cards and notecards launch as Curating Cambridge takes on satirical artist’s work
ArtPress Publishing has stepped up as the first partner for Searle’s Cats in the new licensing programme being run by Curating Cambridge’s rights management division.
The new representation for the collection of over 50 original feline illustrations by the internationally-renowned British artist was announced this week, with ArtPress set to launch its range of greeting cards and notecard wallets as the three-day Top Drawer trade show opens on Sunday, 12 January.
The range that will be on display at London’s Kensington Olympia on Stand O59 features a selection of Ronald Searle’s fiendishly funny, sometimes poignant, satirical cat drawings in black ink with accentuating use of colour, and includes dedicated Christmas products.
Recognised as one of the greatest satirical graphic artists of the 20th century Ronald, who died in 2011, had a passion for drawing that was encouraged and cultivated in his native Cambridge.
His first drawings were published with the Cambridge Evening News at the age of 15, and his experience as a Japanese prisoner during World War II sharpened his eye and pen which, combined with his exquisite draughtsmanship, resulted in his unique comic style – he created the St Trinian’s School cartoons and collaborated on the Molesworth series, while his fascination with cats emerged in the 1960s.
Searle’s Cats was first published in 1967, with its popularity leading to reprints and publications including Ronald Searle’s Big Fat Cat Book in 1982, and the drawings gained international recognition, gracing the covers of magazines such as The New Yorker, Life and TV Guide.
“ArtPress has developed an exceptional greetings range and we look forward to sharing its success with existing and new partners across multiple categories to build a strong, evergreen licensing programme,” commented Hannah Aspey, head of licensing at Curating Cambridge.
Linzi Russell-Watson, director at ArtPress, added: “It has been an utter privilege to work alongside Curating Cambridge to launch a fabulous collection of illustrations by Ronald Searle, featuring some of the most expressive cats you will ever see.
“From what might be the original grumpy cat, to a balding cat in an unsuitable wig, they’re the real cats’ whiskers!”
