Middle-earth Journeys

Iolanthe wrote:Expect the usual illustrated reports .

Iolanthe wrote:Marbretherese, Jonick and I will off to Morton in March tomorrow for ADC Books annual Tolkien art exhibition:

Lands of Enchantment

We're not sure what events are happening on which day but as it's a Saturday I imagine we won't miss much of the good stuff .

Expect the usual illustrated reports .

Author's Tolkein book sketches see daylight

THESE original sketches are more telling proof of the talent of graphic author James Cawthorn.

The drawings are from a 1960 edition of The Lord of The Rings when he became the first artist, other than Tolkein himself, to illustrate the famous books.

In January the Chronicle told how creative James had written the screenplay for classic sci-fi movie The Land Time Forgot, but his achievements had gone widely un-noted for most of his life.

Since his death sister Maureen has been sorting through the pictures, trinkets and gadgets her eccentric brother hoarded at his Gateshead home.

And now she has finally managed to find the sketches, which many will recognise, but few will realise were created by Dunston-born and bred James.

Mum-of-three Maureen, 71, of Elwood Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, said: “I think the drawings are wonderful but I’m biased.

“He was a very talented artist and I think it’s lovely people in the area are now getting to find out about his fantastic achievements.

“I’m sure there are people, now very grown up, who remember seeing them in books as children.

“I suppose he’s played a very important part in the history of pop culture, particularly in the world of fantasy and sci-fi. There’s still a fantastic interest in his work, especially in those circles.”

When James died, aged 78, at the end of last year, he was living in a Northbourne Street council house in Gateshead, his fee from the 1975 film long spent.

It was during the 1970s he and pal Michael Moorcock penned the screenplay for The Land Time Forgot from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1918 novel.

Handwritten notes and sketches of the imaginary island, Caspak, where the blockbuster was set, are still carefully catalogued with movie posters and review cuttings, in Jim’s collection.

Maureen’s home is still overwhelmed by the treasure trove of creativity, which was her brother’s world, but she says she is comforted to have his pictures close by.

“I’ve actually made more mess trying to sort it all out,” she said.

“There’s just so much of it. But it is nice having his pictures here. It reminds me of how he could just sit and draw for hours.

“He always had the talent. I got a call from one of his old classmate who told me she’d paired up with him to sketch.

“She said they were only 13 or so at the time, but she was astonished hat how good his sketch had been. Even if he is eventually forgotten I know his work never will be.”

Maureen is planning to hold an exhibition of James work, although exact details have yet to be confirmed.

© ChronicleLive.co.uk

You must go to the original article and see the drawings. They are very good.

Original article can be found here.