TO BEGIN AT THE BINDING

Brian Webb and Rob Shepherd talk about Sir Peter Blake’s Under Milk Wood, not forgetting Dylan Thomas

Nearly 30 years ago Peter, now Sir Peter Blake, had the idea of cutting a few wood engravings to illustrate Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas. The engravings didn't happen, but over the years more than 100 watercolours, collages and drawings – every character, dream and location – have been produced.

And, twenty years ago, Peter, Brian Webb, Rob Shepherd and Michael Mitchell at Libanus Press, first talked about making a few of Peter’s illustrations into a book. The project grew, Libanus sadly sold their letterpress machines, but the book, with special editions designed by Webb & Webb and bound by Shepherd, Sangorski and Sutcliffe, was published in time to celebrate the centenary of Dylan Tomas’s birth.

Brian Webb is a designer at Webb & Webb Design and is co-author of the Design series of books, including Peter Blake, Design. Rob Shepherd is a book binder, author and managing director of Shepherd, Sangorski and Sutcliffe. As well as Under Milk Wood, Webb & Webb and Shepherd’s have worked together on several special binding projects including the complete works of Ian Fleming and Mervyn Peake.

Tickets (price includes a complimentary glass of wine and mince pie)