Evacuee: A Wartime Childhood

Saffron Walden Museum's new temporary exhibition features the original artwork of artist and author Brian Sanders.

Brian's career spans over five decades working as a professional illustrator. The exhibition showcases his artwork for book jackets, magazines, stamp and coin designs and high-profile work for AMC's Mad Men and on set illustrations from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Scenes of Saffron Walden and the surrounding area from his wartime childhood as an evacuee here dominate the exhibition, accompanied by second world war era objects and photographs from the museum's collections. The books feature images of Bridge End Gardens, St Mary's Church, Bridge House, the 8 Bells pub, and the Boys British School, as well the old cinema and public baths.

Brian will be holding a Q&A on his art career and the exhibition, plus signing copies of his first Evacuee book at the museum's Museum Shop Sunday event - a national initiative to promote the museum retail sector - on Sunday 26 November, 2pm to 4.30pm.

The Evacuee: A Wartime Childhood book is available from the museum shop priced at just £8.99. The museum will be producing a free walking trail (self-guided tour map) capturing moments and places from around the town from the books during the exhibition, which will run until 17 March 2024.

Thanks go to the Gibson Walden Fund for helping with the financing of the Evacuee exhibition and to Rachel Yates from Chicken Shed for originally initiating the exhibition.

14 November 2023