Val Biro’s Paintbrushes

(2014)

These different paintbrushes belonged to Val Biro. A prolific artist; he designed 3,000 book jackets (outer covers) and illustrated 400 books including the 37 Gumdrop picture-books.

Biro passed away in 2014, remaining a dedicated artist and working up to his death. Thomas, a volunteer, smelled the brushes: They are both ‘musky’ but also ‘a bit fresh’ – still smelling like paint.

A lifelong collection –  with some brushes near pristine and others well used with paint stained bristles and flakes on handles – these brushes were assembled throughout his late career. Some still have their price tags on!

These tools echo his artistic journey from Bumper to Gumdrop. They are stored in a heavy stone elephant cup, Biro loved elephants, Bumpy, a kind elephant, was the protagonist in his first book Bumpy’s Holiday, which was published in 1943.

Kindly Loaned by Melissa Biro

Developed with support from the National Paralympic Heritage Trust and the Rothschild Foundation.