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‘…Through the old aisles to heaven.’
Above Altarnun Church by Albany Wiseman
John Coulson Tregarthen (1854-1933) was a gifted field naturalist, described as ‘the best-loved Cornishman of his time…the man who enshrined the spirit of his county’. Tregarthen was President of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, a Fellow of the Zoological Society, a county councillor and a Justice of the Peace. He was made a bard at the Gorsedh in 1928. He is buried at St Columb Major.
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Four Cornish Churches
now published
The final line of Hawker’s poem was a springboard for Albany Wiseman. In the Spring of 2004 Albany toured Cornwall and from sketches, drawings and experiments in approach rendered his vision of four of the most atmospheric of Cornwall’s churches into original lithographs, which Cornwall Editions is now privileged to publish. The four lithographs are offered individually, or as a set collected in a beautiful linen-bound presentation portfolio.
A Romance of the Land’s End
• Landmark re-publication of an engrossing
historical novel
• The classic novel of the Land’s End
• Beautifully written by an acclaimed natural
history author
Set in the countryside near Penzance in the century, this engaging novel chronicles the fortunes narrator, John Penrose, a farm labourer’s son. gallery of deftly-drawn characters, it tells of adventures, from poaching on the moors and smugglers, to a near fatal skirmish. Throughout, author’s intimate knowledge and love of his native shine through in lyrical evocations of the countryside coast and in vivid descriptions of wildlife.
High quality and good value
At £12.95 (US$22.95, A$29.95 or C$29.95), this beautifullyproduced new edition of a classic work is a wonderful addition to a modern Cornish library. If you have any difficulty finding it at your bookshop, you may order directly from us by post, fax, e-mail at one of these addresses or through this website: |
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Ancient stone and natural
beauty in limited edition prints
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Albany Wiseman
A meticulous topographical artist, Albany Wiseman has been in constant demand for the past four decades.He has exhibited widely, particularly with the Curwen Gallery, Christies’ Contemporary Art and the New Academy Gallery. As a watercolour artist Albany has exhibited with both The Royal Watercolour Society and The Royal Academy.
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A special commission by
Cornwall Editions
These lithographs are original works of art. The images are clear, soft and pleasing to the eye. The very gentle colours are sensitively printed on fine Somerset paper with a rich, lightly-textured surface. The prints will grace the walls of any home and would look fine in a living room, a reception room or a bedroom. As a suite displayed together they form a highly decorative group of contrasting scenes on a timeless theme. Collectors of all four lithographs will receive them in a beautiful clothbound portfolio, giving an added luxury and elegance of presentation to the complete set. The individual pictures make perfect gifts, easy and light to pack and to post
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St Enodoc
St Just in Roseland
Zennor
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The making of the lithographs
The initial sketches are made on the spot and backed up by photographs. Back in the studio, the sketches are worked up into more finished form in crayon and watercolour and the composition of the final image developed. The next stage is a very detailed black line drawing when the final detail is fixed. Tracing paper is placed beneath the drawing and with a hard pencil the image is transferred directly to a printing plate prepared with a waxy surface. The surface is drawn away, leaving the plate exposed and ready to take ink. The artist repeats this process for each colour that comprises the finished image. In Four Cornish Churches, the lithographs are made up of five separate colours. The proofing process shows the balance of the colours emerging. The artist can adjust the colours and make fine adjustments to the line. Working with the master-printer, he ensures that all five plates register accurately with each other to produce the final image. The plates are mounted onto the press and each lithograph is carefully printed by hand. This limited edition of Four Cornish Churches was printed by Alan Cox (below,with Albany Wiseman),master-printer, at his studio in the east of the City of London.
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The Storm Lion of Penzance
A story for children everywhere, set firmly in Penzance
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Tom, only nine years old, is a stranger in the Penzance of a hundred years ago, having lived up country until the sudden death of his father. His uncle, a warm-hearted fisherman, would help him along and teach him to fish, but Tom is terrified of the sea. A local painter opens his eyes to a different view of the sea but Tom also makes friends with the bronze lions on Penzance’s promenade. The events of one wild, stormy night suddenly pitch Tom into the biggest test of his young life. He feels the presence of the lion…..
Troon Harrison, a highly respected Canadian author brought up for many years in Penwith, has written this beautiful tale, which is illustrated by the very talented Mark Foreman, lecturer in illustration at the Falmouth College of Art. Look out for this moving and attractive book from Cornwall Editions early in 2005.
The lions are, of course, still there. |
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The Cornish Ports
collection
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One of the most popular of the limited edition, hand-painted charts we recently published is the chart of Padstow estuary (left).
This chart is based on the edition first published in 1844, surveyed by Lieutenant William Louis Sheringham, RN in 1839. The magnificent sweep of water all the way up to Wadebridge and the treacherous shallows that begin right at the mouth of the estuary are strong features.
Sheringham had been assisting Captain Beaufort (who classified the strengths of the wind into the famous Beaufort Scale) in his reorganisation of the Admiralty’s Hydrographic Department. He then took charge of the survey of the coast of Wales, from where he moved south to Cornwall. To order contact us at these addresses or through this website
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Truro reception sets tone for the coming year
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Lander Gallery were generous hosts
In July Cornwall Editions held its first reception in the light and spacious Lander Gallery in the Lemon Street Market building in Truro. Chairman and Publisher Ian Grant welcomed the guests; Philip Payton and Bernard Deacon gave us intriguing summaries of the research and writing of their recent books and guests kept them and Bernard’s collaborators, Sharron Schwartz and David Holman, talking after the short formal proceedings were over. The evening provided guests with an opportunity to view the first copies off the press of Bernard Deacon’s The Cornish Family, which was considerably admired.
Finance Cornwall backs Cornwall Editions
The Truro reception gave Ian Grant the opportunity to announce that Finance Cornwall, the investment fund that specialises in developing Cornish businesses, had given us a tremendous vote of confidence by becoming a minority shareholder in our business, providing capital to underpin our development over the coming years. We expect to reach more people around the world, publish more high-quality books and new works of art and provide new employment opportunities in Cornwall as our business develops.
A point of contact in Canada
We are very pleased to welcome Barry Penhale, President and owner of Natural Heritage Publications of Toronto and a member of the Toronto Cornish Association, as our distribution partner in Canada. Barry’s company will stock our products and supply them swiftly and economically to all our Canadian customers. Natural Heritage Inc are at PO Box 95, Station O, Toronto, Ontario M4A 2M8, Canada; Tel: +1(416)694 7907; E-mail: barry@naturalheritagebooks.com
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Above Professor Philip Payton, Ian Grant
Dr Bernard Deacon at the Cornwall Editions
launch at the Lander Gallery in Truro.
The Cornwall cover
The critical debate over the cover of Cornwall – A History has been vigorous – thank you for all the contributions. The broad brush of expressed opinion that a number of individuals prefer a representative illustration or photograph.
 Retail booksellers, on the other hand, are almost unanimous in their approval. The book is so dramatically colourful that it stands very clearly in a busy retail environment and prompts a lot of pick-up since it is so different from the usual approach.
We chose it because it expresses to us the vigour, energy, rhythm and brilliance of light that we feel in Cornwall. We are 21stcentury publishers and feel that Philip’s text, bringing the story dynamically up to date, warranted a very contemporary piece of Cornish art. The painting is Sir Terry Frost, RA, who lived and worked in Cornwall until his death last year and is one of the most eminent contemporary painters Cornwall has produced.
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