A new exhibition will showcase illustrations by Edward Ardizzone (1900 – 1979).

Edward was one of the most prolific book artists of the 20th century, illustrating well over 170 books for adults and children.

His career overlapped with that of Heath Robinson, the world-renowned artist, illustrator, humorist and social commentator who lived in Pinner from 1908-18, some of the most productive years of his life.

The two had many qualities in common, illustrations by both are concerned with contemporary life untouched by political, religious or ideological conflicts.

It is the third Special Exhibition at the Heath Robinson Museum. It is featuring many of his greatest illustrations and will be divided into two parts. The first focuses on his work for adults, including 25 of his illustrations for Trollope’s first two Barchester novels, which have never been exhibited before. There will also be illustrations for Dickens, Hardy and Thackeray.

The second part of the exhibition will showcase his illustrations for children, including the preliminary sketch book for the ever-popular Little Tim – the Hero of the Storm and the title-page design for Stig of the Dump. We will also have illustrations for The Suburban Child, Graham Greene’s The Little Fire Engine and Robert Graves’s Ann at Highwood Hall.

Curator Geoffrey Beare explains: “Edward Ardizzone’s work displayed wit, originality and a deep humanity. He was strongly opposed to the idea that illustration could be merely decoration or graphic embellishment. In his view, the relationship of drawing and words had to be very close: he felt that the illustrator’s task was to create a visual counterpart to the world of the writer.”

Heath Robinson Museum, Pinner Memorial Park, 50 West End Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AE, April 1 until June 11 2017. Details: 020 8866 8420