AWARD-winning cartoonist and former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell has been booked for this year’s Jersey Festival of Words, organisers have announced.
Mr Riddell – named Cartoonist of the Year in the 2024 Press Awards – is set to host a number of events at the ten-day festival.
Schoolchildren will be able to attend a live-drawing event at the Freedom Centre exploring poems and ancient landscapes while learning about legends such as Arthur and Guinevere, the Queen of Sheba, Kubla Khan and Robin Hood.
Mr Riddell will also team up with John Henry Falle, aka The Storybeast, for a live illustrated adventure through Jersey’s treasure horde of folk tales. A picture book event for younger children is also planned.
In a special evening at the Blue Note Bar on Friday 27 September, Mr Riddell will be joining Jersey songwriter Sam Falle (aka Winterfalle) and a handpicked line-up of emerging UK alt-folk artists for a unique fusion of live illustration and folk music, with artists’ lyrics being drawn live on stage by the cartoonist as they perform.
Paul Bisson, festival vice-chair, said: “We’re excited to be bringing the exceptional artistic talents of Chris Riddell to the Island this September.
“Even more exciting is the prospect of seeing him in live collaboration with the formidable twin talents of Story Beast and Winterfalle in what promises to be a unique series of interpretive events.”
Mr Riddell has agreed to illustrate the cover of this year’s programme and the festival will be selling limited-edition merchandise featuring the artwork.
This year’s festival will feature over 60 events, a selection of which have already been revealed. Further information can be found at jerseyfestivalofwords.org.
