The acclaimed Canadian artist Charles van Sandwyk will be speaking about his sumptuous illustrations in the Folio Society’s limited edition of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll on the 15th of November at an event in London.

Charles van Sandwyk has been compared to artists as diverse as Arthur Rackham, E. H. Shepard and Beatrix Potter – and such diversity serves to underline just how individual and original a creative force he is. Born in South Africa and raised in Canada, he taught himself calligraphy and intaglio printing as a teenager. His first self-published book appeared when he was just 20, and won a national award. Since then his work has been archived by the National Library of Canada and treasured by private collectors across the world. He has written and illustrated numerous books, such as How to See Fairies, Sketches from the Dream Island of Birds and Animal Wisdom. Filled with intricately imagined worlds, these beguiling creations reflect his love of animals, and his quiet mission to exalt the joyful, the peaceful and the beautiful in life.

Its characters were so memorably defined by John Tenniel in the first edition that all subsequent illustrators are presented with an exceptional challenge. No artist is better suited to meet it than Charles van Sandwyk, who reveres the work of his great predecessor, yet is able to bring to the story a sense of the absurd brilliance in depicting animals, and his own special whimsicality which is so in tune with the spirit of Carroll.

“If I think back to what Alice meant to me as a child, it was both the story and the wonderful drawings by Tenniel which inspired me to draw – and recreate – the characters for myself. Little did I know that one day my White Rabbits and Frogs in Wigs would grace the pages of such a splendid edition.” Charles van Sandwyk.

The talk takes place at 7pm at Waterstones, 203–206 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LE. The event is free to enter but please RSVP in store, by telephone 020 7851 2400 or by email [email protected]

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk

The ultimate collector’s edition of Lewis Carroll’s immortal tale, featuring wonderful new illustrations by the acclaimed artist Charles van Sandwyk.

RRP: £495.00 from The Folio Society