FOLLOWING the huge success of last year’s major retrospective exhibition, Nunnington Hall, near Helmsley , is proud to welcome Jane Pinkney back this autumn with her new exhibition, Jane Pinkney’s Mice.

Famous for her characteristic mouse illustrations and once described in the 1980s by the national press as the next Beatrix Potter, Jane’s beautiful, finely detailed illustrations draw comparisons to both Potter and perhaps the greatest book illustrator of them all, Arthur Rackham.

After success in the 1980s and 1990s illustrating a number of books, including Margaret Greaves’ The Mice of Nibbling Village and Mouse Mischief, Jane Pinkney, though continuing to paint, stepped out of the limelight to spend more time with her growing family.

It was one day in the autumn of 2010 that Jane, while sorting her drawings, had the idea that she should exhibit some of her work.

She called Nunnington Hall, who, familiar with her work from the 1980s, invited her in to chat. From there, the story snowballed into one of Nunnington Hall’s most exciting projects to date and, in the space of a year, took Jane on a journey that would see her become artist in residence at Nunnington Hall; her book, The Mice of Nibbling Village, being re-published by the National Trust; her exhibition being one of Nunnington’s most successful to date and her securing representation by the world’s leading illustration gallery and dealer, Chris Beetles, based in London.

“We are extremely proud to welcome Jane back this year for her second exhibition at Nunnington,” said Nunnington Hall’s visitor services manager, Annabelle Coaten.

“The whole team at Nunnington feel they have been on an exciting journey with Jane and are thrilled that the National Trust have reprinted another of her books, Mouse Mischief.”

At the exhibition, which runs until November 4, visitors and collectors from across the world will have a chance to acquire pieces they have only ever seen on the printed page.

“I am thrilled,” said Jane, speaking about the exhibition.

“When I first called Nunnington Hall enquiring about doing an exhibition, I could never have guessed or predicted what would lie ahead over the coming months. It’s been an amazing adventure. I am so excited that people will have a chance to see my work and that two of my books have been reprinted.”

Perhaps Jane’s most famous client over the years was Princess Diana, who fell in love with an illustration from Margaret Greaves’ Mouse Mischief.

“I was selling my book at Burghley Horse Trails,” recalled Jane.

“Princess Diana came to my stall.

She was very taken with a print from the book. I offered it to her as a gift but she insisted on paying for it and had to borrow five pounds from her security guard as she wasn’t carrying money. I still have the five pound note.”

Jane Pinkney’s Mice is a collaboration between Nunnington Hall and Chris Beetles Gallery. Normal admission times and charge apply. For further information phone 01439 748283 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk .