Richard Walters

In an Alton Arts Festival exclusive combining live music and illustration, multi-award winning illustrator and cartoonist and former Waterstones Children?s Laureate Chris Riddell joins Grammy-nominated songwriter and performer - and Alton local - Richard Walters, in an intimate collaborative performance at Holybourne Theatre. Audiences can witness Richard?s evocative, acoustic-led music brought to life through Chris? inimitable and vivid illustrative style. Truly one not to be missed. As Richard performs, Chris will create interpretive drawings live - projected onto a screen to create an immersive and magical audience experience. Chris will also read from a number of his hit books - including the 'Goth Girl' and 'Ottoline' series, and his poems - and discuss his life, work and collaborations onstage with Richard. One of the UK's top contemporary illustrators and cartoonists, Chris Riddell has written and illustrated an exceptional range of books and is winner of many illustration awards, including the UNESCO Prize, the Greenaway Medal (on three occasions) and the Hay Festival Medal for Illustration at the 2015 Hay Festival where he was described as 'the greatest illustrator of his generation.' Chris's own books include the highly-acclaimed Ottoline titles and the 2013 Costa Children's Book Award-winning Goth Girl. Chris has also worked on books for children with numerous collaborators including Paul Stewart, Neil Gaiman, Russell Brand and Michael Rosen. Richard Walters is a critically acclaimed UK artist, Grammy nominated songwriter, and educator. As a solo artist, he has released five albums and four EP's since 2007. His music has featured on a number of TV shows including Grey's Anatomy, After Life and CSI: Miami. As a songwriter and collaborator Richard has worked with an eclectic mix of artists including Grammy winner Joe Henry, British icon Alison Moyet, Finnish symphonic metal heroes Apocalyptica, US alt-rock legends Semisonic, a number of key players in the electronic music world - including Deadmau5, Kaskade, and Sultan + Shepard - current UK poet laureate Simon Armitage (as part of the band LYR) and even Oscar nominated actress and singer Florence Pugh. Collectively, his work has amassed well over 200 million streams. Recent commissions have included a new upcoming project 'Blossomise' for The National Trust, and the North-East Culture Awards winning 'Firm as a Rock' for Durham Brass festival 2022. Age guidance: Recommended for 12+