| Roger
Twinn |
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| Nationality - English |
Date of birth - 03 01 1951 |
| Profession - Illustrator |
Date of death - Still with us |
| Place of birth
- Southend-on-Sea : Essex |
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Roger Twinn was born on January 3, 1951 at Rochford hospital, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Roger was educated at Chalkwell School, Westleigh School, Belfairs High School and at Southend School of Art & Design.
In his time Roger has studied such subjects as Fine art, graphics, art history, photography, computer programming, Italian language and youth ministry.
Since, and during his studies Roger has worked as an Art director in: London, Milan, San Francisco, Sydney, Vancouver and Auckland. He has also held teaching positions
in Graphics, & painting at the ASA (Auckland Society of Arts) Auckland as well as Graphics and photographic art direction at Carrington Art School. (Now Auckland Uni).
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To Ladybird collectors Roger Twinn
is well-known as the illustrator to Sylvia Creche's lovable little furry
character, Mervyn Mouse - Mervyn joined Ladybird as a late-comer to the
ever-popular 401 series in 1980.
Methuen Children's Books published several other Mervyn Mouse stories which were illustrated by Roger.
Unfortunately Mervyn is no longer in print but there is a possiblity of
future publications appearing at some point - watch this space.
Click
here to read a 1984 newspaper article about Mervyn Mouse, Roger Twinn and
Sylvia Creche |
Short interview with Roger TwinnRoger was kind enough to give some of his time to answer questions regarding his short time working as an illustrator for Ladybird Books (formerly Wills & Hepworth).
The Wee Web
Can you tell us a little about your childhood interest in drawing / illustrating?
Roger
As a child I enjoyed sketching where & when ever possible.
The Wee Web
Can you tell us about your illustrative techniques and mediums used?
Roger
I have used all mediums.With Mervyn I used Windsor & Newton coloured inks with series 3a brush, part
scraper board technique and rapidiograph pen line.
The Wee Web
Who are your favourite artists?
Roger
Andrew Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, Andy Warhol and Norman Rockwell.
The Wee Web
What was your first job involving illustration work?
Roger
The first real paying job as an illustrator/painter was when I was commissioned through Royds of London to produce Japanese style paintings to hang on the walls of a large Japanese restaurant in London.
The Wee Web
In Ladybird circles you are well-known as the illustrator of Sylvia Creche's Mervyn Mouse - I am under the impression that a chance radio broadcast of the first Mervyn Mouse story in 1978 led to you creating the furry rodent's image from your studio in Leigh-on-Sea - Can you tell me a little more about this and what inspired you to put pencil to paper?
Roger
I was asked by a journalist at the Readers Digest special book department where I worked to contact Sylvia
Creche who already had written her stories that were being broadcasted on LBC radio for schools. Sylvia was
looking for an illustrator to bring Mervyn to life visually. After reading her stories I just loved the little character
and saw the vision of Mervyn in my dreams. I decided then to create the visual character and being a
book designer I made up a dummy book design with which to sell the concept to a publisher. Sylvia agreed to
this. Ladybird was the first publisher to take up Mervyn so I then negotiated on behalf of Sylvia & myself for
fees & royalties (Ladybird, unlike many publishing houses, did not pay royalties to authors and illustrators for there submitted work, but rather paid a flat fee per story) making sure that Sylvia kept the word copyright & I retained the visual character copyright.
For some reason someone nominated my cover designs on the Mervyn Mouse Ladybird book for The NBL British Book Design and Production Award (Exhibited in London and Frankfurt). and won!
The Wee Web
Do you own a copy of Mervyn Mouse?
Roger
Yes I have three of the original Mervyn the Mouse Ladybird books.
The Wee Web
Were you presented with any guidelines for your illustrative work by Ladybird?
Roger
Absolutely not!
The Wee Web
How big were the original illustrations for Mervyn and do these still exist somewhere?
Roger
The first drawings I had drawn same size as reproduction. All the remainder publications of Mervyn for
Read Methuen Books I drew half up whilst living in the Island of Elba Italy.
The Wee Web
Did Ladybird ever ask you to illustrate any of their other books?
Roger
No.
The Wee Web
Did you ever visit Ladybird books in Loughborough, and if so can you tell us a little of your impression of the Ladybird Factory?
Roger
Yes, but I remember nothing of the Ladybird Factory except the feeling of being in something
like an archaic string factory.
The Wee Web
Have you illustrated any other books?
Roger
Yes many large books on the subjects of medical, gardening, sailing, horse racing, DIY & other!
The Wee Web
What would you consider as your greatest achievement in life?
Roger
Discovering the Lord.
Visit Roger's website
The Wee Web would like to thank Roger for his time given in answering the above question and also for making this profile page possible.
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Roger Twinn
bibliography - 6
listed |
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The
Roger Twinn
books listed below MAY
include titles that were not published by
Wills & Hepworth / Ladybird. |
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| Roger
Twinn books Wee
have for sale |
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All
the Roger Twinn
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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| Random
fact |
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In 2004 a first edition Ladybird book from series 413 entitled 'Baby's First Book' sold on eBay for £352.00 |
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