The Art of Louis Shabner – h/b

Louis Shabner began his career producing shop window advertising for brands such as Every Ready, Ovaltine and Chivers jams, amongst others, but is best known for his paintings of sultry sirens. During the 1960s and 1970s his prints, which were available through shops such as Boots chemists and by post through Freemans catalogues, adorned lounge walls up and down the UK. Many of his women made it onto hugely popular calendars during the same period.

Under the pseudonym Sheldon, Shabner also produced numerous book cover paintings for Pan and other publishers. At the time, mass-produced art of this kind was viewed as having only ‘throw away’ value, but now Shabner’s work – often mentioned in the same breath as that of contemporaries Vladimir Tretchikoff and J H Lynch – is highly sought-after by collectors, with copies of his original prints and calendars being snapped up for high prices.

In The Art of Louis Shabner, researcher Stuart Webb presents the most comprehensive account ever published of Shabner’s life and work, lavishly illustrated with beautiful colour images of a wealth of his paintings. A ‘must buy’ for aficionados of vintage art and book cover illustration.

‘This eagerly awaited new book by Stuart Webb … is a labour of love, which finally gives the artist the respect he deserves’ – Simion Hawtin-Smith from BBC’s Money for Nothing, writing in Reclaim magazine Issue 68

‘A fascinating look at the work of someone who may not be a household name but whose paintings had appeared in advertisements, on walls as calendar and as prints.’ Tim Kitchen

‘Such a beautiful book, by the dynamic Stuart Webb.’ re sould vintage / classic / modern store, Australia
‘It’s absolutely fabulous, I love it.’ Kirsty Hunter, Australia
‘A beautiful work of art.’ Nicola Beedon, Canada
‘A gorgeous, beautiful book.’ Candance Nelms, USA
‘A feast for the eyes.’ Helen Maguire, UK
‘Beautifully presented, Stuart Webb’s The Art of Louis Shabner is a fantastic history of a British artist only recently gaining recognition.’ Circa 62 vintage shop, UK
‘Stunning Book.’ Sinead LaVey, UK
‘It’s a fabulous book, really thorough.’ Gail Eagle, UK
‘Fantastic book.’ Sophie Barnes, UK
‘Great book! I love it a lot.’ Jens Bruenger, Germany
‘It’s gorgeous.’ Jessica Willason, Australia
‘A fabulous and beautiful book.’ Wilma Kliphuis, the Netherlands
‘Beautiful and brilliantly researched book.’ Kasandra Oconnell, Ireland
‘Such a beautiful book.’ Nicola Payne, New Zealand

240pp. Large format 22cm x 28cm hardback. Fully illustrated in full colour throughout.
ISBN 978-1-84583-189-9
Published 17 December 2021

Copies of this book are available to USA-based customers through the following retailers:
Bud’s Comics and Art: https://www.budsartbooks.com/product/the-art-of-louis-shabner/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stuart Webb studied Electronic Engineering at Leeds University, before securing a position as a powerplant engineer in the aerospace industry. He now works as a systems engineer for an engineering consultancy. Stuart has written for a number of magazines, including a two-year stint with the now sadly defunct Book and Magazine Collector. An award winning short story author, Stuart has also penned three novels for children, Aurora’s Tears, Lyme Hall and Time Traveller Jenny at Chatsworth. The first print of his debut novel sold out on the day of publication. More recently, his passion for all things vintage, and particularly kitsch art, has resulted in Stuart writing a number of articles on this subject for Vintage Explorer magazine. Although he’s previously contributed to a writer’s handbook titled A Seriously Useful Author’s Guide to Marketing and Publicising Books, The Art of Louis Shabner is his first full work of non-fiction. Stuart lives in Cheshire with his wife and daughter. Instagram: @stuart_webb_