Cicely Mary Barker (1895-1973) was an English illustrator best known for her series of fantasy illustrations depicting fairies and flowers. Her artistic education began in her childhood with correspondence courses. Later she graduated from Croydon School of Art. She perfectly used the watercolour technique, created with pen and ink, also reached for pastels and oil paints. Initially, she created greeting cards and illustrations for magazines addressed to young people, and her first book – "Flower Fairies of the Spring" was published in 1923. In addition, in bookstores there also appeared: "Flower fairies of the Garden", ''A Flower Fairy Alphabet'', "Flower Fairies of the Trees" and numerous illustrated books with songs and poems for children, publications on religious topics, as well as postcards.
The exhibition showcases watercolours by Joanna Bochaczek-Trąbska inspired by the works of C.M. Barker. In addition, it includes the books and postcards by Barker. The author of the exhibition is a painter from Częstochowa, a doctor of humanities in the discipline of history, a political scientist, an employee of Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa. The artist belongs to the Jerzy Duda-Gracz Artists’ Association of Częstochowa and is also a member of the Polish Historical Society Branch in Częstochowa.
