Picture Hooks 2016 at Gracefield Arts Centre

The Picture Hooks exhibition is the result of a one-year project at the National Gallery of Scotland in which up-and-coming illustrators were matched with, and mentored by, established illustrators including Nick Sharratt (noted for his Jaqueline Wilson books), Cate James, Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom, Natalie Russell, and Debi Gliori. Their early career mentees were: Tracey Smith, Catherine Lindow, Hannah Coulson, Jon Bishop and Maisie Shearing.

In the gallery upstairs, a complimentary selection of work by Eskdalemuir-based illustrator Cathy Sidhu, and invited artist Cliff Wright, who is best known for his Harry Potter covers is being shown, along with illustrative works from the Gracefield Permanent Collection.

In room five we’ll have a selection of free quizzes and drawing challenges for you to try your illustrating skills and local artist Pamela Grace will be running a special book-based kids club on the opening Saturday – see p17 for details.

An exhibition that shows the fun and creative process of illustrating children’s picture books.