Shirley Barber (23 June 1935 – 12 December 2023) was a British children's author and illustrator.
Born on 23 June 1935, Shirley spent her early childhood in Guernsey (Channel Islands).[1] She had formal art school training at Sanderson's Furnishings, a textile and wallpaper studio in London.[2]
Barber was a long time resident in Australia having emigrated there in 1965 and worked for a time for Oxford University Press in Melbourne, Victoria. She lived in Watsonia, a suburb of Melbourne, with her son and his family and was married twice. Her second husband Keith Barber died in 2000.[2]
Barber wrote many picture books and fairy-themed colouring books, calendars and diaries, which have sold over 10 million copies as of 2008.[2] Most of Barber's books featured fairies and animals. Her books were mainly set in picturesque woods. Her books were published in 18 languages.[2]
Barber died at her home in Watsonia on 12 December 2023, at the age of 88.[3]
Career
Shirley Barber is a third-generation artist and learnt designing at Sanderson textile and wallpaper studios in London, and was awarded an "art in industry" bursary at the age of 18. During her time there, she mainly did "floral and berry nature work", which reflects her own illustrations in her books later on in life.
She later left the United Kingdom to Australia in 1965[4] with her family, taking on the role as an illustrator for Oxford University Press in Melbourne. Throughout her time there, she also made fairy pictures that she sold at craft markets.
Barber was 55 when she took her second rendition of "Martha B. Rabbit" to Penguin and instead was recommended to try the publisher Five Mile Press.[5] Barber's first book "Martha B. Rabbit: the Fairies' Cook" was published by Memory Press (an imprint of Five Mile Press) in the 1980's, Barber's family still own the original first draft.[6] Her first book received a special mention in the international Bologna Children's Book Fair picture book awards.
In 2012, she resumed her relationship with the publisher Brolly Brooks, as she first worked for them during her time at Five Mile Press. Her books have been published with them ever since, with Brolly Brooks announcing a statement to confirm the author's death at age 88 in 2023.[7][8]
Works
Book Title
Date Published
Publisher
Martha B Rabbit: The Fairies Cook
1988
Memory Press
Rainbow Magic
1989
Five Mile Press
Teddy's Midwinter Birthday Party
1990
Five Mile Press
The Pixies' Kettle House
1990
Five Mile Press
Teddy's Forest Friends
1990
Kite Trouble
1990
Five Mile Press
Those Wicked Rats Again
1991
Five Mile Press
Daphne the Forgetful Duck
1991
Five Mile Press
Martha B Rabbit and the Unexpected Guests
1993
Five Mile Press
The Enchanted Woods
1993
Five Mile Press
Shirley Barber's Fairy Book: An Anthology of Verse
1995
Five Mile Press
The Tooth Fairy
1995
Five Mile Press
The Mermaid Princess
1995
Five Mile Press
Tiger Tom and the Stolen Sapphires
1996
Five Mile Press
Shirley Barber's Fairy Books: Four Beautiful Board Books
