IBIS

Imaginative Book Illustration Society

IBIS was formed in 1995 by Geoffrey Beare, a collector and Robin Greer, a dealer, each of whom have a wide-ranging interest in the art of imaginative book and magazine illustration. They recognised that as an art form, illustration is not receiving the attention it deserves, either from our national museums and galleries or from the academic community. They therefore decided to see whether there were sufficient like-minded people to form a society to promote interest in and further study of this neglected art form. A limited initial trawl elicited an enthusiastic response from potential members, both in the UK and abroad, and at a public meeting on 6th June 1995 the society was founded, its objectives agreed and an executive committee elected. The society now has over 300 members. Institutional members include the British Museum and the National Art Library.

IBIS aims to encourage research into, and exchange of information concerning, book and periodical illustrators and their publishers. Whilst the main emphasis is on the illustration of texts in English since the 1830s, IBIS embraces all aspects of illustrative art.

It organises exhibitions, lectures and study days, and arranges visits for members to both public and private collections of illustrated books and periodicals, and of original artwork. The Society has mounted two exhibitions of original artwork drawn from members' collections.

It issues a newsletter three times a year which informs members of events and publications of interest, reports on the activities of the Society and its members, and most importantly stimulates bibliographical research and serves as a vehicle for the exchange and pooling of information between members. The newsletters have already published preliminary bibliographies of the book and magazine illustrations of a number of artists including C. H. Bennett, Willy Pogany, Alice B. Woodward, Frank Papé, Errol le Cain and Simon Brett, to which members were invited to contribute additional information.

IBIS also publishes an occasional journal to record final versions of bibliographies and to publish more substantial essays on book illustration than the newsletter can accommodate. The first such journal, titled Aspects of Illustration was published in December 1999.