

The End Had Come*
Ink wash, 1948
27 x 32cm


Early Work
1947-1964
Elephant Attacked by Tiger
Pen and Ink, c. 1949
31 x 22 cm
Red-fronted Gazelle
Oil on canvas on hardboard, 1948
30 x 24cm






Elephant*
Poster colour and ink, 1949
14.2 x 15.8cm
Some of these images (*) appear in three articles Ken wrote for The Artist magazine in 1950/51.
ANIMAL ILLUSTRATION, PARTS I-III described his process in detail from initial idea to the finished work. All very much the writings of a very earnest and enthusiastic young artist.
Orang-utan *
Ink, 1949
20 x 25cm


Terror*
Tinted scraperboard, 1949
15 x 22.5cm




Raymar
Inscribed: Ink brush study, 1949
17.5 x 16cm
Raymar
Oil pastel, 1949
27 x 21cm
Biddy
Oil on canvas on hardboard, 1963
50.5 x 35.5 cm
Dogs were always part of the family but we only have portraits of two. Raymar, a great dane (before children) and Biddy, one of the two long-haired collies we grew up with.




We have no references to explain the following. All we know for certain is that he loved both horses and Westerns. There are two story boards and a variety of individual images all in this style.




Story board 1
Pen & ink, date unknown
33 x 53cm
Cowboy with lasso
Pen & ink, 1957
20 x 25.5cm
Native American on horse with mule
Pen & ink, date unknown
12 x 26cm
Untitled (Bar brawl)
Poster paint on paper, 1947
25 x 30.5cm
The Cowboy with Lasso was included in what appears to be a portfolio of his work from the 1950s, along with images from an advertising campaign that featured very free pencil sketches. Others included some from the The Artist article, mentioned above, showcasing a range of styles but notably not the fine, detailed watercolour that dominated his early freelance career.








Seated man
Pencil, 1952
25 x 17.5cm
Reproduction: advertising
The Rev. A. Binns
Poster paint on paper, 1948
43 x 26cm
Untitled
Inscribed " Distant foreign Beggars at Gate of holy temple"
Ink on paper, date unknown
Two of three paintings in this style, we have no reference to their context but most probably for his own amusement. The third was of a jazz piano player in an equally busy setting, which we no longer have. (Jazz piano was a life-long love: he was of the "you hum it, I'll play it" brigade and played a pretty good stride piano!)


Three other artworks, two different styles and subjects.
The two ink drawings are related: the first feels upside down until you read small the note on the right hand side, which identifies the position of the figures within it.


Untitled(Stylised pheasant in landscape)
Poster paint on board, 1951
25 x 30.5cm
Untitled
Ink on paper, date unknown


Birds
Heron
Watercolour, 1982
17 x 21.5 cm
Illustration: Some Birds & Mammals of the Riverbank by Kenneth Lilly, pub. The Medici Society, 1983 ©The Medici Society Ltd.


Green Woodpecker
Watercolour, 1976
46 x 30 cm
Reproduction print
© The Medici Society Ltd. / Mary Evans PL




Little Owl with Young
Watercolour, 1973
48 x 30 cm
Reproduction print
©The Medici Society Ltd.


Barn Owl with Field Mouse
Pencil & watercolour wash, 1992
45 x 30 cm
Goldcrest
Watercolour, 1979
19.5 x 15 cm
Reproduction: Print
pub. unknown


Scandaroon
Pen and Ink, 1981
21 x 27 cm
Illustration: title page, The Scandaroon by Henry Williamson, pub. Macdonald, 1972






The following four paintings, from a set of sixteen, were originally commissioned by Sir Joseph Causton & Sons Ltd, for a book entitled, The Birds of Hawking and Falconry.
Gyrfalcon in Snow
Watercolour, 1979
50.5 x 35.5 cm
Northern Goshawk
Watercolour, 1978
50.5 x 35.5 cm
Ornate Hawk Eagle
Watercolour, 1979
50.5 x 35.5 cm
Saker Falcon with Bustard
Watercolour, 1979
50.5 x 35.5 cm




The book was never published. The note below was supplied to the art dealer who arranged their sale. Our apologies to the Glasier family for Ken's spelling!




Snowy Owl
Watercolour, 1981
21 x 21 cm
Reproduction: RSPB Calendar 1982 pub. The Curwen Press, 1981






Robin-in-the-Box
Robin on the Railings
Robin on the Road
Watercolour, 1995
Royal Mail stamps Christmas 1995
© Stamp Design Royal Mail Group Ltd (1995)
Postcards © Royal Mail 1995
Rook in winter mood
Oil on canvas, date unknown
45 x 36 cm


Young Little Owl
Pencil, 1981
19 x 19 cm
Reproduction: ceramic plate
Honiton Pottery


Sand Martens
Watercolour, 1981
21 x 27 cm
Reproduction: RSPB Calendar 1982 pub. The Curwen Press, 1981
Roughs, working drawings, field sketches & studies






Dunlin and Curlew, Holy Island at low tide
Pencil, 1971
27 x 38 cm
Field sketch
Guillemot in first winter plumage (male)
Pencil,1968
25 x 38cm
Field study


Black-headed Gull
Pencil and crayon, date unknown
28 x 25 cm
Field sketch
Wren on twig
Pencil, date unknown
X x X cm
Working drawing: unknown


Tern
Pencil and felt pen, 1981
21 x 21cm
Coloured rough: 1982 RSPB Calendar (May)
pub. The Curwen Press, 1981
Cockerel
Pencil, 1981
14.5 x 18.5 cm
Working drawing: Animals on the Farm
pub. Methuen/Walker Books, 1982


Land Mammals


Harvest mice
Watercolour, 1973
45.5 x 30.5cm
Reproduction print
©The Medici Society Ltd 1973


Hedgehogs
Watercolour, 1980
17 x 21.5 cm
From: Some Birds & Mammals of the Field and Hedgerow by Kenneth Lilly, pub. The Medici Society, 1980 ©The Medici Society Ltd.




Shirehorses in harness
Oil on canvas on hardboard, c.mid 1970s
54 x 44 cm
Reproduction: Greetings card
©The Medici Society Ltd. / Mary Evans
Chinchillas
Watercolour, 1984
32 x 50 cm
Illustration: Night Time Animals: As Large As Life by Joanna Cole
pub. Walker Books, 1985
Red Squirrel
Watercolour, 1984
32 x 50 cm
Illustration: Daytime Animals: As Large As Life by Joanna Cole
pub. Walker Books, 1985
Cheetah with herd of Thomson's Gazelle
Watercolour, 1972
37 x 58 x cm
Cover jacket: The Mitchell Beazley Atlas of the World: Wildlife, pub. Mitchell Beazley, 1972


'The Boycombe Buck' (Roe buck in tall grass)
Oil on board, 1976
29cm x 39cm




Two private portrait commissions in detailed watercolour – of only three that we still have records for.
Tabitha (above and detail)
Watercolour, 1989
c.35 x 60 cm






Darley Arabian (top) and Ormonde
Watercolour, 1995
29.5 x 40.5 cm
Two of 29 completed portraits of notable racehorses from 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. These were destined for a book with text by Sophie Murphy. The remaining nine portraits, of the 40 planned, were never started. There are numerous monochromatic line and wash vignettes, too, depicting a significant event or aspect of each horse's life.


Lion family
Watercolour, 1987
17.5 x 28.5 cm
Illustration: Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text Joyce Pope, pub. Walker Books, 1988
Pepe & Polly
Watercolour, 1988
c.30 x 45 cm
Other Animals
















Bull Frog
Watercolour, 1987
15 x 28.5 cm
Illustration: Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text by Joyce Pope, pub. Walker Books, 1988
Thorny Devil
Watercolour, 1987
15 x 28.5 cm
Illustration: Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text by Joyce Pope, pub. Walker Books, 1988
Bottle-nosed Dolphin
Watercolour, 1987
22.5 x 28.5 cm
Illustration: Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text by Joyce Pope, pub. Walker Books, 1988
Green Turtle
Watercolour, 1983
17.5 x 41 cm
Illustration: Animal Swimmers
pub. Walker Books, 1984
also
Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text by Joyce Pope,
pub. Walker Books, 1988
Nile Crocodile
Watercolour, 1987
24 x 34 cm
Illustration: Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text Joyce Pope, pub. Walker Books, 1988
Walrus
Watercolour, 1983
12.5 x 28.5 cm
Illustration: Animal Swimmers
pub. Walker Books, 1984
also
Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text by Joyce Pope,
pub. Walker Books, 1988
Tree Frog
Watercolour, 1984
32 x 50 cm
Illustration: Daytime Animals: As Large As Life
Text by Joanna Cole
pub. Walker Books, 1985
Natterjack Toad
Watercolour, 1986
20.5 x 23 cm
US First Day Cover for 1986 British Conservation Stamps
pub. Unicover Corporation
©Wind River Studios Holdings, Inc
For Children
Images from many of the children's publications also appear in the other collections here.
Many more of the images from Treasure and Look and Learn can be viewed in the Look and Learn Historical Picture Archive
https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/search.php?q=kenneth+Lilly
Hare
Line and wash, 1986
20.5 x 17.5 cm
Illustration: Come, Come to My Corner by William Mayne
pub. Walker Books, 1986


The Rebel of Glenlee (detail)
Watercolour, 1967
17 x 50.5 cm
Illustration: short story by F. St. Mars
Look and Learn no. 273 (8 April 1967)
© Look and Learn








The Bush Baby
Watercolour, 1967
20.5 x 17.5 cm
Illustration: magazine front cover
Treasure no. 222 (15 April 1967)
© Look and Learn
Tiger and cubs
Pencil 1987
15 x 38 cm
Draft spread for:
Kenneth Lilly's Animals
Text by Joyce Pope, pub. Walker Books, 1988
Night Heron
Watercolour, 1970
20.5 x 17.5 cm
Illustration: magazine front cover
Treasure no. 387 (13 Jun 1970)
© Look and Learn
Sheep and lambs
Watercolour, 1982
14.5 x 37 cm
Illustration: Animals on the Farm
pub. Methuen/Walker Books, 1982
Orang-utan and baby
Watercolour, 1986
14.5 x 37 cm
Illustration: Animals Climbers
pub. Walker Books, 1986




Fang leaving his mark
Line and wash, 1995
Page size c.23 x 26 cm
Illustration:
Fang (The Story of a Fox)
Story by Tessa Potter
pub. Andersen Press, 1996


Sarn sniffing dinner
Line and wash, 1995
Page size c.23 x 26 cm
Illustration:
Sarn (The Story of an Otter)
Story by Tessa Potter
pub. Andersen Press, 1996
Dust bath and grooming
Line and wash, 1992
Page size c.23 x 26 cm
Illustration: double page spread
A Field Full of Horses
Written by Peter Hansard
pub. Walker Books, 1993
Poundwater


Poundwater Sketchbook was a book proposal based on observations of life in and around the garden at the family home, Poundwater. There are numerous sketches and notes collected over a number of years – a few were developed into sample spreads.




Front Cover artwork
Line and wash, 1985
21.5 x 29.5 cm
Field Sketches
Pen and ink
21 x 29.5 cm
Double page artwork, incomplete text
Line and wash, 1985
27.5 x 43 cm


Double page artwork, incomplete text
Line and wash, 1985
27.5 x 43 cm












Field Sketch
Pen and ink
21 x 29.5 cm
Double page draft
Pencil, 1985
18.5 x 43 cm
Field Sketch
Pen and ink, date unknown
21 x 29.5 cm
Field Sketches
Pen and ink
21 x 29.5 cm
Pairs
Our solution to a cataloguing dilemma: equality for feathers, fur and human.












Pony with Pheasant
Watercolour, 1989
15.8 x 22.5 cm
Reproduction: Greetings card
The Medici Society, 1989
©The Medici Society/ Mary Evans PL 1989
Mouse with Robin
Line and wash, 1995
12.7 x 35.5 cm
Reproduction: Wraparound greetings card
'The Ken Lilly Series' The Medici Society, 1996
©The Medici Society Ltd.
Ducklings with Kitten
Line and wash, 1995
12.7 x 35 cm
Reproduction: Wraparound greetings card
'The Ken Lilly Series' The Medici Society, 1996
©The Medici Society Ltd.
Clare with Farway Kittymead
Pen and watercolour wash, 19XX
27.5 x 43 cm
Hacking down to the Start
Line and wash, 1986
29.5 x 38 cm
Robin with Pony
Line and wash, 1994
17.7 x 17.5 cm
Reproduction: Greetings card
The Medici Society, 19 XX
©The Medici Society/ Mary Evans PL 19XX
Miscellaneous
















Pin the horns on Clover
Felt pen and crayon
Date unknown
For the village fete!
Begonia Rex in a holiday guesthouse
Pastel, 1964
Widemouth Bay
Pen and wash, 1964
Shags on St Cuthberts,
Holy Island at high tide
Pen and Ink, 1971
'The Sticks', Kent
Family home (1950s - 1975)
Pencil, date unknown
Tintagel, Cornwall
Pen and wash, 1964
Dylewell Point, Cornwall
Pencil and oil pastel, 1967
Unknown Church
Pencil, date unknown
One of a pair: something to do with positioning the font.
Ken Lilly.co.uk




















