Noel Carrington: Nothing Need Be Ugly
15 November - 2 September 2026
Wixamtree and Connections Gallery - Free Entry
‘A teacher of evacuated children wrote to me that a boy who was so recalcitrant that he had never admitted to being able to read, suddenly, on seeing the Puffin farm book, asked to be allowed to read it in class’. Noel Carrington
Curated by writer and publisher Joe Pearson (Design for Today), this exhibition tells the story of publishing’s unsung hero Noel Carrington (1895–1989).
Schooled in Bedford, Noel Carrington became one of the most influential figures in design of the 20th century. Through Puffin Picture Books and Country Life he commissioned, edited and published some of Britian’s most loved children’s picture books. He saw the genius in artists such as Kathleen Hale, whose series of books about Orlando the Marmalade Cat he published, and he championed emerging artists such as Hilary Stebbing. With Eric Ravilious he published one of the finest picture books of the 20th century: ‘High Street’, with Edward Bawden he wrote and published ‘Life in an English Village’, and with Mervyn Peake he commissioned the tale of the wild pirate ‘Captain Slaughterboard’.
© Hilary Stebbing Estate
The exhibition will feature publishing classics such as the Kynoch Press Notebooks and Country Life Gardener’s Diaries as well as 120 Puffin Picture Books. The work of Noel’s sister Dora Carrington will also be included as it was Noel who brought her back into the public eye.
Through much loved children’s books, forgotten gems and original artwork this exhibition will take Noel Carrington out of the footnotes and into the spotlight.
Talks & Tours
Exhibition Tour
Friday 24 April 12–12.30pm
Friday 3 July 11.30-12pm
Tickets £3.60 per person, concessions £3.05 – Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.
Talk by Joe Pearson - Noel Carrington and his Artists
Friday 8 May 2–3pm
Tickets £7.75 per person, concessions £6.20 - Booking Essential
Join exhibition curator, Joe Pearson,to learn more about the artists Carrington worked with, includingEric Ravilious, Edward Bawden,Stanley Roy Badmin, Enid Marx, Hilary Stebbing and Suzanne Einzig.
Talk by Victoria Partridge - Marmalade Cats & Faithful Hens
Friday 10 July 11.30am-12.30pm
Tickets £7.75 per person, concessions £6.20 - Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art, Victoria Partridge, for this marmalade cat-filled talk about the wonderful art of Kathleen Hale.
Noel Carrington Press Release