Raymond Briggs exhibition extended to meet demand

More than 10,000 visitors have seen Bloomin’ Brilliant: The Life and Work of Raymond Briggs

An exhibition featuring never-seen-before artworks from The Snowman illustrator Raymond Briggs has been extended.

The show, at Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft, was due to run from 27 April to 27 October, but will now finish on 22 December due to demand.

More than 10,000 visitors have so far seen Bloomin’ Brilliant: The Life and Work of Raymond Briggs.

Museum director Steph Fuller said: “We hope by extending the show for two months many more visitors can engage and enjoy the show this winter."

The late illustrator lived near Westmeston in East Sussex before his death in 2022.

This exhibition includes work from Mr Briggs’s pioneering titles, including The Snowman, Father Christmas, Fungus the Bogeyman and When the Wind Blows, plus the autobiographical graphic novel Ethel and Ernest.

The late illustrator lived near Westmeston in East Sussex

It includes 30 items from the late author´s East Sussex estate with more than 100 original artworks from his 60-year career.

New items to be added for the extension include a selection of Christmas cards Mr Briggs made and sent to his family and friends.

The exhibition also joins up with the touring Raymond Briggs: A Retrospective from the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.