Reading as you’ve never seen it before

OCTOBER 14 – Talented artist Sally Castle has created a magical book for children and adults based on a classic story where good deeds are rewarded.

The Twyford-based artist used the quietness of covid lockdown to illustrate Oscar Wilde’s children’s story, The Happy Prince.

She has lettered the Irish writer’s words in a style loosely based on copperplate, written with a pen dipped in Quink. The end result is a beautiful art book edition, with a sketchbook feel.

A professional artist, Sally was born in Reading, the town where Oscar Wilde became the local gaol’s most famous inmate. He was imprisoned there in 1895.

For these reasons her drawings set The Happy Prince story in the town.

Sally went out and about gathering details with her sketch book and camera.

Readers will be able to spot the local landmarks: the prison and town hall are on the front cover which includes gold foil blocking.

Inside, delightfully, the picture of Wilde’s beautiful Palace of Sans-Souci is in fact the Co-op store at Cemetery Junction. The upper section with its mouldings and window framings inspired Sally to think of it as a palace.

She has other amusing references. The drawing of Wilde’s lion that roars is of course the war memorial Maiwand lion in Forbury Gardens.

“It started just as a personal project during covid. I’d really wanted to do one of Wilde’s fairy stories. The Happy Prince appealed because it shows good deeds being rewarded. It’s a book adults will buy for children. It just looks so lovely,” she says.

Sally, 68, has worked closely with Reading Museum.

“The book will be launched there and they will have the art work in their collection,” she says.

“I’ve also devised a route round the town, about three miles long, so people can look for the book’s landmarks. Details of the online map will be published later,” she said.

She has designed covers and illustrated over 40 books for Reading-based Two Rivers Press, the publishers of her latest book. She is a director of the company.

The company say she has “a reputation for original hand lettering and a particular interest in linocut