1. Beatrix Potter Author and Illustrator 1866-1943

2. ‘Sketchbook, age 8’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 At the age of eight, Beatrix Potter was already studying and recording animals, birds and insects in a home-made sketchbook.

3. ‘Microscopic studies of a Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 Beatrix caught and mounted these butterflies for her collection of specimens. What do you think the designs in the two boxes are?

4. Illustration from The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse The butterfly, along with a bee, beetle, ladybird and spider, enjoy supporting roles in The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse. Potter observed them all with astonishing attention to detail.

5. Study of harebells and marguerites 5 July 1880 © Frederick Warne & Co. 2009 As a teenager, Beatrix spent most of her time on her own, studying, painting, and sketching. Through her 20s, she developed into a talented naturalist. She also began to earn a small income from her illustrations for greeting cards.

6. Peter Rabbit, © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 Potter first wrote the story of Peter Rabbit in 1893 in a picture-letter to Noel Moore. Noel, the son of her friend and former governess, was ill in bed.

7. Photograph of Beatrix Potter’s letter to Noel Moore. ‘My dear Noel, I don't know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits, whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter.’

8. ‘Pencil study of Peter Rabbit’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006

9. Illustration to The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902, © F. Warne & Co., 2010 In 1900, she borrowed the letter, and reworked the pictures and story into a picture book. Six publishers rejected the story, but Beatrix was determined.

10. ‘Peter Rabbit’s Race Game’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006

11. ‘Fawe Park’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006

12. Onions, August 26, 1903. Beatrix painted all she saw, even vegetables. Notice how she arranged the onions. Look at how carefully she sketched and painted them.

13. 'Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny collecting onions' © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 Later, Beatrix used the sketch of the onions in an illustration from The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. How are the onions different? How are they the same?

14. ‘Preliminary sketch for The Tale of Mr...... Jeremy Fisher’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 Potter’s first concern was to remain true to the likeness of the animals. Her humor was based on familiar happenings of everyday life. She was a realist, and rarely attempted to teach morals in her stories.

15. ‘Preliminary sketch for The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 Illustration to The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902. © F. Warne & Co., 2010

16. ‘Preliminary sketch for a painting book’ © Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 ‘Tom Kitten bit and spat, and mewed and wriggled; and the rolling-pin went roly-poly…’

17. ‘Sketch of footprints in snow (1909)’ ©Frederick Warne & Co. 2006 With her wealth, Beatrix purchased much land in her beloved Lake District of northern England. A conservationist, she gave 14 farms to the National Trust to protect the land from development.