Edward Bawden - Snails for All

A free exhibition at The Higgins Bedford displaying every page of Edward Bawden's 1945 illustrated children's book 'Snails for All' alongside related works from the collection.

The exhibition celebrates a recent gift to The Edward Bawden Archive of 'Snails for All', a book Edward Bawden wrote and illustrated in 1945 for his two young children after returning from service as a War Artist in the Middle East. Each page of the book is shown alongside other works from the collection, and the seven fantastical snail species it describes — including the Giant Tortoise Snail of Borneo and the Lovelies Snail — are introduced. Children from Putnoe Primary School also contributed artwork inspired by the book, made with local artist Philippa McDonald. A newly published edition of the book with an essay by Alan Powers is available from the gallery shop.