Cicely Mary Barker (1895-1973) was the illustrator who created the famous Flower Fairies, in the shape of ethereal smiling children with butterfly wings. As a child she was greatly influenced by the works of the illustrator Kate Greenaway, whom she assiduously copied in her formative years. Her principal influence however, which she duly credited, was the artwork of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood who believe in working directly from nature.
Real-life models were used, often coming from her sister's kindergarten and the flowers that are so botanically accurate were often borrowed from Kew Gardens if she had none to hand in her garden. All the costumes were created by her and based on the flowers in the paintings.
These illustrations are skilfully reproduced as seen below in a lovely range of Flemish tapestry cushion covers, draught excluders and throws