A projection of The Snowman flying over Brighton was projected onto the Royal Pavilion last night.
The images from Raymond Brigg’s classic book were displayed by Penguin Random House, which now owns Hamish Hamilton, the original publishers of the 1978 book.
Briggs, who died in 2022, lived and worked in Plumpton for many years and had a long association with the area, including teaching illustration at Brighton College of Art, now the University of Brighton.
The local landscape, including the Royal Pavilion, also found its way onto the pages of his work.
Francesca Dow, MD, Penguin Random House Children’s, said: “Raymond had a deep affection for this part of the world and local landmarks frequently found their way into his art.
“One of my favourite sequences sees the boy and the Snowman soar over the South Downs, the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier, so bringing that flight to life here feels particularly special.
“It is also a wonderful opportunity, during the National Year of Reading, to celebrate the extraordinary power of illustration in the reading experience.
“Raymond famously chose to tell The Snowman entirely without words, trusting his pictures to carry us into the story and allowing every reader’s imagination to take flight.
“Almost 50 years later, it remains one of the most beautiful and enchanting examples of visual storytelling in children’s literature.”
The spectacular projections were made possible through a special collaboration between Penguin subsidiary Puffin Books, owner of The World of The Snowman, and Brighton and Hove Museums.
Kate Turnbull, Head of Marketing at Brighton & Hove Museums, said: “For so many people across the world, seeing the Snowman fly over the Royal Pavilion in Raymond Briggs’s classic illustration was their very first introduction to our magnificent landmark.
“To see that legendary moment brought back home to our historic facade is an unforgettable way to kick off the festive season, celebrating both local creative heritage and the power of visual storytelling to spark the imagination.”
The animated film version of the book will be shown at the neighbouring Brighton Dome, accompanied by a live orchestra, on Saturday, 19 December.
