We are proud to be a corporate partner of Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village, and this winter there’s a real treat in store for fans of the Flower Fairies, the enchanting characters created by Cicely Mary Barker (1875-1973) that became world-famous through her hugely popular books.
Opening at Watts Gallery on 22 October, Flower Fairies ™: The Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker takes visitors on a journey from the artist’s childhood to the creation of her enchanting fairy characters.
Presented in association with Penguin Random House Children’s UK, the exhibition opens with an exploration of Cicely Mary Barker’s early years. Born in 1895, Cicely and her older sister, Dorothy, grew up in Croydon. Cicely was a poorly and delicate child and, as a result, spent most of her time at home, quite often confined to her bed. To pass the time, Cicely read books and started to draw. This section of the exhibition includes examples of Cicely’s earliest pictures such as watercolour illustrations of a fairy chasing butterflies (c.1905) and cherubs circling the sun (c.1905) made before she was ten – revealing that, from an early age, fairies had captured her imagination.
Also included is photography of family life. Images from the Cicely Mary Barker archive of the family messing about at the beach, cuddling their dogs and relaxing together in the garden show what a happy childhood she had and how close they were as a family.
Cicely’s father, Walter Barker, was an accomplished artist and recognised his daughter’s talent. When she was thirteen, he enrolled her at the Croydon School of Art and also paid for a correspondence course in art, which she continued until the age of twenty-four. It was Cicely’s father who helped her in 1911 to sell her first piece of work – four animal illustrations included in an annual – and the next section of the exhibition explores the start of Cicely’s commercial career.
Her success as a commercial artist became more urgent following the death of her father when she was only seventeen. Determined to assist with the family finances, and with guidance from her correspondence tutor, she created sets of postcards, starting in 1915 with Children Of the Allies, followed by Shakespeare characters (1917 and 1920), Seaside Holidays (1918 and 1921) and Fairies and Elves (1918).
After the First World War there was renewed interest in fairies, with writers that Cicely was familiar with including them in new publications. Having had success with her Fairies and Elves postcards, Cicely was determined to keep supporting her family as much as possible. Using her love of writing poetry, drawing children and nature, the Flower Fairies came to life. In 1923 she sold the first of these works to Blackie and Son and the book was published in the same year. It was an instant international success.
From White Clover (1925) to Jack-go-to-Bed-at-Noon (1948), these botanically accurate drawings featuring fantastical fairies were a publishing sensation. Inspired by real children from Cicely’s neighbours or her sister’s nursery school, and showing a deep appreciation of flowers and plants nurtured by her family’s love of their garden, the Flower Fairies soon became known and loved around the world. Even Queen Mary was a fan!
Whilst most famous for the Flower Fairies, the exhibition will give visitors a chance to discover some of Cicely Mary Barker’s other works which she wrote and illustrated, notably The Lord of the Rushie River (1938), written from a dream she had as a child, and its sequel Simon the Swan, published posthumously in 1988.
Children and families are at the heart of this exhibition, and there are plenty of opportunities for younger visitors to play and create throughout. Plus a Tree Fairy Trail to follow through Watts Gallery’s beautiful woodland.
Dr Laura MacCulloch, Co-curator of the exhibition, said:
“We are so excited to have the chance to show so many items from the Cicely Mary Barker archive, many of which have not been on display before. Through photographs, early drawings and cards she made for her family we can glimpse her early interest in nature and the magical world of fairies. In her later portraits and drawings of real children, sketchbooks of poems and the studies and sketches made for her illustrations we see how she drew on her imagination as an adult to delight generations of children.”
Flower Fairies ™: The Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker opens at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village on 22 October and continues until 27 April 2025. For further information: wattsgallery.org.uk
Image: Flower Fairies exhibition space © Watts Gallery Trust. Photo by Rosie Scrace.
Smith Greenfield has partnered with Watts Gallery Trust – the charity responsible for maintaining Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village – to offer its Friends, Patrons and members access to its expert insurance services. And, through a special arrangement, when Friends of the Gallery take out or renew a policy through Smith Greenfield the charity will receive a donation. For further information, please visit wattsgallery.org.uk