Artist / Illustrator
Professional
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Pauline Baynes was an artist and illustrator whose work encompassed more than 100 books, notably several by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. She is best known for her cover and interior illustrations for The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis.
In 1948 as a still unknown young artist Baynes’ work was spotted by Tolkien who immediately saw the potential of using her to illustrate his books, starting with Farmer Giles of Ham and eventually The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Smith of Wootton Major, Tree and Leaf and (after the author's death) the poem Bilbo's Last Song.
She began work on The Chronicles of Narnia in 1950 and these kept her occupied through to 1956. Whilst her relationship with Tolkien seemed genuinely affectionate on both sides, she had a much more professional relationship with Lewis and they only met twice.
It is almost impossible to imagine the world of Narnia without Pauline Bayne's drawings and illustrations to help make this fantasy world real.
Believe what you like, but don't believe everything you read without questioning it.
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