Little Red Riding Hood poster

This poster was created by artist Bernadette Watts for a 1976 publication of The Brothers Grimm Little Red Riding Hood (or 'Rotkappchen'), which she illustrated. The text very closely mirrors the Grimm text with their revised story concluding with a 'happy ending' where a woodsman saves the Grandmother and Little Red Cap from the wolf and they dispatch him. This diminishes the moral lesson in the version by Charles Perrault who was very direct about the need for young maidens to beware the gentle, yet deceitful and predatory, 'wolf', and indeed the girl is punished for her transgressions.

The Grimm Brothers' version concludes with a happy ending but still constitutes a coded, civilizing message. Little Redcap, and young girls in general, are still warned of the consequences of defying mother's instructions.

Watts' colourful scene shows Little Red Riding Hood collecting flowers for her grandmother. The accompanying text in the book reads 'Red Riding Hood chose only the prettiest flowers and each time she bent to pick one she saw another that was even prettier farther off. So she wandered deeper and deeper into the forest, and forgot how quickly time was passing.'

Bernadette Watts lives in Kent, England. Her artistic career has spanned 40 years during which she has produced a large number of illustrations for children's picture books. These include the Grimm Brothers' and Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, as well as her own stories including 'The Christmas Bird'. She has also created animated pieces for television commercials.

Born in England in 1942, Bernadette Watts developed a love of drawing during her childhood and the first picture book that she drew, under the influence of Beatrix Potter, still exists.

She attended the Maidstone Art School in Kent, studying book production and fine art. This was followed by travel in Europe and South Africa. Part of her tuition at the Maidstone School was under Brian Wildsmith, a prolific children's author and illustrator.

Bernadette Watts was the sole United Kingdom participant in the 2005 'HC Andersen's Bicentennial Birthday project' which involved the publication of 13 of Andersen's most loved tales. Bernadette was one of the 13 illustrators chosen for the project.

(This biographical material is taken from the Bernadette Watts website.)

Displayed as part of the Multi-Storied exhibition, 2012.

This item is reproduced courtesy of Bernadette Watts. It may be printed or saved for research or study. Use for any other purpose requires written permission from Bernadette Watts. To request approval, complete the Quote for Copy/Permission form.