The many faces of Shakespeare

INTERNATIONALLY renowned children’s author-illustrators Mick Manning and Brita Granström visited Mary Arden’s Farm where they were joined by pupils from Wilmcote Primary School for the The Big Draw 2016.

The Big Draw is an arts education charity that promotes visual literacy and the universal language of drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention.

Mick and Brita have created several award winning illustrated children’s books like the one they produced about the Bard called William Shakespeare: Scenes from the Life of the World’s Greatest Writer.

They were at Mary Arden’s Farm to help launch The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's campaign to create 400 faces of Shakespeare, one for every year of the Shakespeare anniversary.

Under the umbrella of this year’s Big Draw Festival – the national campaign to promote drawing – Mick and Brita held a drawing workshop at Mary Arden’s Farm for year 5 and 6 pupils from Wilmcote Primary School.

The children discovered Shakespeare's story through Mick and Brita's illustrations, and with expert advice on hand learnt how to create their own Shakespeare portraits. The result was a unique collection of portraits of the great man himself created by the children.

The thinking behind the project is to create 400 Shakespeare portraits which will be displayed in a new community exhibition at Shakespeare's New Place from 22nd October. Anyone can submit their Shakespeare portrait online using the hashtag #400facesofShakespeare