PAN Fans Club

Let's talk about PAN paperbacks, the blog for those that do judge a book by its cover. Main site is at www.tikit.net or www.panfans.club

PAN Fans Club - Let's talk about PAN paperbacks, the blog for those that do judge a book by its cover. Main site is at  www.tikit.net or www.panfans.club

Original Artwork from Alan Cracknell etc.

First blog since upgrading to Windows 10 – so far so good!

I mentioned in the last blog I was trying to contact an artist, namely Alan Cracknell, but no success so far but then again I may not have the right one. The artwork this time features his interpretation of that famous character form Enid Blyton “Mr Twiddle” in “Hello Mr. Twiddle” There were three titles in this series but only two were published by PAN under the Piccolo imprint who didn’t include “Don’t Be Silly Mr. Twiddle” I’ve also included a couple of his other Blyton covers. I’ll put on another piece of his artwork soon.Twiddle1Alan was born in Harrow in 1937 and attended art school before working as an illustrator in advertising in London eventually became freelance.
“His beautifully detailed artwork influenced by Russian Icons and Medieval miniatures incorporates Nursery Rhyme Characters, Flora and Fauna, Field names and Artifacts in a surreal manner into his work. Medieval meets Alice in Wonderland” (Bell Fine Arts)

I meant to include this cutting last month when it actually appeared but it went missing and turned up a bit ripped!MorphPan published three Morph titles under the Piccolo imprint where Tony Hart is shown on the covers but it is Peter Lord who is credited inside.

Segway

Mastering the beast before being let loose in the woods.

….. and finally, although this is probably ‘old hat’ to all of you and for once nothing to do with books I got around to having a ‘Segway Experience’ last week. I was quite pleased, for once, to be told off for going too fast around the corners but as I didn’t crash into anything or fall off I thought I’d mastered it pretty well!

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Lorna Siviter
Lorna Siviter
May 16, 2020 3:50 pm

Hi Andrew
I am a PhD student researching illustrated cookbooks. Alan Cracknell provided the artwork for the 1964 book ‘First Slice your Cookbook’
I am really keen to get in touch with Alan regards his approach to this commission and the technique he used.

Your help would be most appreciated.

Andrew
Andrew
December 26, 2019 12:37 pm

Alan Cracknell used to decorate the Xmas bumper editions of the Radio Times each year, each page bordered with his delightful images ; eagerly awaited and thumbed through by our family as children. The modern world has lost some of the magic he helped to create…

Shirley Brieger (was Rayner)
Shirley Brieger (was Rayner)
June 1, 2019 2:11 pm

I knew Alan when we both worked for Robert Tyndall. I absolutely loved his work. I have on my wall the ‘pencil’ picture, which I believe was an award he received.I also have a beautiful card he gave me one Christmas. It’s a line drawing on a metallic blue paper. I also knew John Craddock for many years as I was a journalist working on the Eagle/Girl magazines. I was lucky enough to meet Alan at a party a good few years back now. Pease, when you next speak with him, pass on my very best wishes to him. I remember him even now with great affection.

Sara Headworth
Sara Headworth
November 5, 2018 12:25 pm

Hello!
While clearing out our attic this weekend we found, hidden under the eaves, an Alice in Wonderland drawing/print by Alan Cracknell and was wondering if this is a popular one? I’ve fallen in love with it!
Hoping for any information,
Sara

Melissa
Melissa
January 29, 2018 4:13 pm

Hi, I am trying to track down Alan Cracknell, to seek his permission to use an illustration he did many years ago, as part of a series of journal covers. Please can you email me an address I can write to him at? Many thanks.

Martin Cook
November 19, 2017 10:31 am

Hi,

I would like to talk to Alan Cracknell regarding the possible use of a 1969 illustration of the band Jethro Tull. Regarding the comment above about Alan being email-free (lucky him), I am after an address. The illustration may be used in some promotional material and I am a firm believer in paying and crediting people!

Best,

Martin

Melissa
Melissa
January 29, 2018 4:22 pm
Reply to  Martin Cook

Martin – Did you manage to get in touch with Alan Cracknell? I am also wishing to credit him. Thank you.

Jane Aiken
Jane Aiken
July 30, 2017 6:40 am

I collect old tins so am delighted to know our much loved Mr. Cracknell also did those too. Looking at the wonderful web site I was amazed and delighted to see so many of his illustrations, not only because I admire his work but that I have in the past loved many of these and didn’t even know they were his. Perhaps he is silently much loved by many but does not know that he is. I hope someone may have found him and told him he has many admirers. That might have even cheered Van Gogh .

Jackie
Jackie
May 6, 2017 5:20 pm

Hi. Just found your page that mentions Alan Cracknell. My father, John Craddock, was a commercial artist agent and represented Alan when he was with ACA (Anglo Continental Artists) and then for quite a few years after when he set up his own artists’ agency. If my memory serves it was my father who obtained The Sunday Times work for Alan (mentioned by Jane above) along with many book cover commissions and packaging for the biscuit company Huntley & Palmer, to name but a few. Dad and Alan grew to be great friends as Alan had a studio at the ACA offices in Lincolns Inn Fields, London.

Jane Aiken
Jane Aiken
April 21, 2016 3:52 am

Hallo, I was greatly cheered fo find someone who actually knows Alan Cracknell. Perhaps, when you see him you could tell him there are people out here who love his work and would like to congratulate him on its’ excellence. As a teenager in the late 6os I was largely educated by the Sunday Times and always cut out any art from the Supplement which I couldn’t live without. I had most of his full page illustrations but now have only one. Probably due to my mother regularly expunging all trace of me from her life at regular intervals! I do have one though.
I’ve mentioned him to lots of people over the years but never found anyone who remembers him which is a great shame and rather disappointing so I am overjoyed to have news of him.

Keith
Keith
January 26, 2016 10:27 pm

Hi There,
if you want to email me your details I will pass them on I dont think he is on the internet so it will be by post.
regards
Keith