EXTRACTS: The Art of Ron Embleton (illustrators special) © 2018 The Book Palace (144 PAGES in Full edition)

6 6th October 1930. The Embletons could trace family ties to East London and, more specifically, Walthamstow back to the 1600s. Beyond that, there is evidence of familial connections going back to Northumberland, which even boasts its own Embleton Bay, a picturesque stretch of coast which, in 2017, was voted the UK’s beach of the year amongst BBC Country File viewers. The Northumberland connection was to have a fortuitous resonance later in Ron’s career. Ron’s parents were, by all accounts, very supportive of their son’s artistic talent. His father, Sydney Embleton, was a borough clerk who worked as a food inspector. RIGHT: Coloured pencil sketch of Sir Lester Dedlock and Lady Dedlock from Dickens' 'Bleak House'. BELOW: Coloured pencil sketch of Bill Sykes, Fagin and Nancy from Dickens' 'Oliver Twist'. FACING PAGE: A horse- drawn London bus, one of a series of illustrations Ron created for This England .