Illustrationcupboard Gallery

Illustrationcupboard Gallery is a unique central London art gallery representing the most distinguised contemporary book illustrators from around the world. Since 1995 it has presented a continuous schedule of events including single artist's exhibitions, themed events and the much-loved annual winter exhibition. Other projects have included working with municipal hospitals, public art galleries and museums as well as national festivals such as the Edinburgh International Book Festival. There have also been international events including a touring exhibition to Australia and the recent exhibition in Hong Kong.

Founder John Huddy first studied art history at school and went on to gain an MA (Hons) in History of Art at St Andrew’s University. He worked at Christie's in St James’s, London, extending an interest in old master drawings and paintings. It was a family connection with publishing that sparked his appreciation of illustration artwork from books he had grown up with. As a child he had met many leading authors and artists, a number of whom are now represented by the gallery. Illustrationcupboard Gallery also encompasses other services including a specialist bookshop offering signed first editions, and hand-made, out-of-print and limited-edtion books by private presses. It also offers advice to estates and leading author/artists on artwork and inheritance  management of their artwork, and has worked on a number of significant valuations.

"I started Illustrationcupboard in the spare bedroom of my sister’s flat in 1995 when there was little interest in collecting contemporary book illustration artwork. Years on I am pleased to regularly show the finest artwork in this field to a broad audience from our three floor art gallery in central London. I often think how lucky I am to have the opportunity to see this original work when so many thousands of others see only the printed page."