| Charles
Keeping |
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| Nationality - English |
Profession - Author & Illustrator |
| Date of birth - 22 Sep 1924
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Date of death - 1988 |
| Place of birth
- Lambeth Walk : South London |
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Charles William James Keeping was born in Lambeth Walk, South London on 22nd September 1924.
On leaving school at the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to the printing trade followed by service in the Royal Navy between 1942 to 1946.
After the war he studied at the Regent Street Polytechnic where he obtained a National Diploma in Art and Design in 1949.
Charles was a teacher of lithography at Croydon College from 1963 to 1978; and a visiting lecturer in Printmaking at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts from 1979.
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His lithographs have been exhibited in London, Italy, Australia and USA, including the International Exhibition of Lithography at Cincinannati in 1958. He also has prints in many collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum. Charles Keeping won awards for illustrations particularly in children's books.
Charles Keeping eventually turned to writing as well as illustrating his own books. He grew up in the dock and market area of South London and his work was mainly concerned with the people in the work streets of London.
Keeping is probably best known for his work on Rosemary Sutcliff's historical novels for children, and he created more than twenty picture books. He won the Kate Greenaway Medal for outstanding work in children's illustration twice: for Charley, Charlotte and the Golden Canary in 1967, and for an illustrated edition of Alfred Noyes's poem The Highwayman in 1981. He illustrated The God Beneath the Sea, by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen, which won the Carnegie Medal for children's literature in 1970. He also illustrated the complete works of Charles Dickens for the Folio Society.
Charles Keeping was married to Renate Meyer (an artist) on 20th September, 1952. They had four children. From 1961 until his death on 16th May 1988, Charles Keeping lived at 16 Church Road, Shortlands. His widow, Renate Meyer, still lives in the house.
Illustrations from Charles Keeping's books and work in watercolour, textiles and prints can today be seen at The Keeping Gallery.
Further Reading
Douglas Martin (1989), The Telling Line: Essays on Fifteen Contemporary Book Illustrators, Julia MacRae Books
Douglas Martin (1993), Charles Keeping: an illustrator's life, Julia MacRae Books |
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Charles Keeping
bibliography - 4
listed |
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The
Charles Keeping
books listed below are either first editions,
special editions or noted editions. |
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| Charles
Keeping books Wee
have for sale |
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All
the Charles Keeping
books listed below are currently for sale
on our website - we may have some others in
stock so please ask if you don't see the title
you're looking for. |
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