Helen Oxenbury: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Other Adventures

Continues at the Harley Gallery, Worksop, Nottinghamshire until 4 January 2026

HARLEY GALLERY EXHIBITION

Helen Oxenbury:
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
and Other Adventures

Continues at the Harley Gallery, Worksop, Nottinghamshire until 4 January 2026

This wonderful Harley Gallery exhibition features over 100 pieces of Helen Oxenbury’s work. There are well-known illustrations from We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, as well as the early version of this bestselling book which takes a very different approach of an actual ‘bear hunt’. It was Helen who suggested that it might work better if it was a family out on an adventure.
Opposite this in the gallery is Helen’s latest book with Michael Rosen called Oh Dear! Look What I Got which echoes their previous book together with it’s rhyme and warmth.

Top: Helen stands in front of a large wall vinyl of ‘The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’

Below: Wall displays of ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’

Bear Hunt Artworks on wall at Harley Gallery
Harley Gallery Exhibition - illustrations from 'We're going on a Bear Hunt'

Top: Helen stands in front of a large wall vinyl of ‘The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’

Above: A room hung with original artworks from ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and below that a treasure from ‘The Quangle Wangle’s Hat’ and a framed slection from ‘Bear Hunt’

There is also work from some of Helen’s less well known and earlier books including The Quangle Wangle’s Hat artwork from the 1960’s and one of Helen’s own favourites Big Mama Makes the World, written by Phyllis Root, published by Walker in 2002. Not to be missed is the artwork from Helen’s baby books including So Much and her Baby Board Books from the 80’s and 90’s. These books show how her work at the time, alongside her publisher Sebastian Walker was so groundbreaking. These books reshaped what books for the youngest children could look like. Her books were designed with babies in mind, created with thoughtful, simple design and making everyday happenings in babies lives the centre of the books. Their influence still shows in nearly every modern board book.

Left: The Quangle Wangle’s Hat. 

Below: A large collection of originals from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Viewing the exhibition at the Harley Gallery

Helen signing books for visitors at the Harley Gallery in October.

Right: Activity stations are installed to engage young minds. 

Above: A large selection of original artworks from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Helen signing books for visitors at the Harley Gallery in October.

Activity stations are installed to engage young minds. 

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Helen’s exhibition, Helen Oxenbury: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Other Adventures will continue at the Harley Gallery, Nottinghamshire until January 4