KNOWLES, Horace J.

"beautiful and magical illustrations!"

Horace Knowles worked as a book illustrator in the first half of the twentieth century. His work ranges from biblical illustration to fairy drawings to accompany Enid Blyton's stories, but his magnum opus is undoubtedy Peeps Into Fairyland which he both wrote and illustrated. His illustrations include watercolours and pastel drawings, but his most striking and  distinctive pieces are his powerful black and white drawings.

He also collaborated on a book of fairy tales with his brother Reginald Knowles.

"Mr Knowles's beautiful pen and ink drawings have a rare decorative quality, and his fine, yet sensitive and vigourous line, and his exquisite use of detail are shown here to advantage. He has a rare feeling for trees, which are drawn to every stage from the bare tracery of leafless boughs to the rich masses and flowing curves of summer foliage." Contemporary review of Knowles' work.

Books illustrated by Horace Knowles can be seen below.