Edward Bawden - Snails for All
Opens 23 May 2026
Edward Bawden Gallery - Free Entry
Illustration from Snails for All 1945 by Edward Bawden © The Edward Bawden Estate
In 1945, after returning from his duties as a War Artist in the Middle East, Edward Bawden wrote and illustrated a book about snails for his two young children called ‘Snails for All’. Last year The Higgins Bedford was gifted this amazing book for The Edward Bawden Archive. To
celebrate this new acquisition the exhibition, of the same name, will display each page of the book alongside other works from the collection. There will also be artwork inspired by the book by children from Putnoe Primary School made in collaboration with local artist Philippa McDonald from Creative Days.
‘Snails for All’ is no ordinary book. Instead of domestic garden snails, the seven species included are fantastical beasts that share one thing in common; they can’t be found. There is The Giant Tortoise Snail of Borneo, so giant that it pushes down trees as it moves, the Lovelies Snail who frequents mausoleums and ‘crawls over the bones of girls who have died of love’ and the undiscovered Heartsease snail, whose shell is encrusted with precious stones.
You will also be able to buy your own ‘Snails for All’ book as it is being published for the first time with an accompanying essay by design, architecture and art historian Alan Powers. The book, published by No Pattern Ltd, will be available to buy from The Higgins Bedford Shop.
Illustration from Hold Fast by Your Teeth 1947 by Edward Bawden © The Edward Bawden Estate
Snails for All Exhibition Tour
Friday 26 June 11.30am-12pm
Tickets £3.95 per person, concessions £3.35 – Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.
Edward Bawden Archive Session
Friday 17 April, 2pm-3.30pm
Thursday 16 July, 2pm-3.30pm
Tickets £14.60 per person, concessions £11.70 – Booking Essential
Hidden in secret drawers inside The Edward Bawden Gallery are hundreds of prints, drawings and ephemera. Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a delve through some of them. The session is a perfect opportunity to see well known works as well as pieces that have never been on display before with an informative guide.