Ewbank's
Lot 95A
Illustration for an unknown production. Paul Birkbeck 1939-2019. Temple scene. 59 x 41.5 cm, not signed. ABOUT PAUL BIRKBECK; an appreciation, written by one of his daughters and published in the Guardian following his death. "My father, Paul Birkbeck, who has died aged 80, was an artist and illustrator whose work is familiar to those of a certain generation brought up on BBC childrens TV programmes such as Crystal Tipps and Alistair, Play School and Jackanory. His distinctive style and keen eye for detail ensured that he became one of the BBCs most-used artists through the 1970s and 80s.Born in Woolwich, south-east London, Paul attended Brighton College and Epsom School ofArt. After completing his national service, he also became the banjo player for the Dedicated Men Jugband, who signed to Pye Records in 1965. The bands single, Boodle Am Shake, did not trouble the charts but Paul soon began designing sleeves for Decca Records.In 1965 working with BBC childrens TV he became a prolific illustrator for its programmes. For Jackanory he illustrated 14 stories, including A Dog So Small (read by Judi Dench) and Peter Pan, (some in this sale), as well as the BBC Sunday afternoon Bible stories series In the Beginning.His work for Jackanory continued for many years. He created the memorable opening titles for The Vikings in 1980, presented by Magnus Magnusson, and the iconic Miss Marple series, starring Joan Hickson. Paul also drew the backgrounds for the ground-breaking TV series Jane, starring Glynis Barber, which mixed cartoon backgrounds with live actors and was based on the 1940s comic strip of the same name. (some in this sale).In 1991, as well as supplying illustrations, he was in front of the camera playing himself each week in the BBCs six-part childrens TV history programme Now Then, an educational show that cleverly brought our ancestors to life.Paul taught illustration at Leicester Polytechnic, Epsom College and the Royal College of Art, but continued to work in TV, including delivering the titles for the Stanley Baxter Show on Channel 4. He branched out into book illustration with Salman Rushdies 1990 childrens fairy tale Haroun and the Sea of Stories, for which his lavish pictures were much lauded, not least by Rushdie. My father spent the latter part of his life on personal commissions. His work appeared at the Keith Chapman Gallery, London, in Royal Academy summer shows and Sunday Times watercolour exhibitions between 2003 and 2008, and in the Mall Galleries Discerning Eye exhibitions.PROVENANCE The artworks in this sale have been consigned by his family.NOTES: The pictures in this sale were prepared in various mediums often used by the artist and often in conjunction with one another, including, pen and ink, crayon, water-colour, gouache, pastel, and oil and acrylic paints on card or on paper. The auctioneers acknowledge the help of his family in cataloguing this collection, and where-ever known each picture has been listed under its broadcast designation. but the vendors do not guarantee that all attributions in this respect are correct. The family do however guarantee that the pictures, both signed and unsigned are the work of Paul Birkbeck. All sizes are approximate.
