Peter Wienk
Posted: 17 Aug 2010, 20:01
I would really like to set the record straight about the illustrators of Noddy.
My father in law, Peter Wienk (born 11-09-1920, passed away 16-08-2010), was never interested in any claim to fame. Therefore I would like to add the following so that he may be remembered for continuing Beek’s work and keeping many children happy with his illustrations.
Peter was in fact the only person who worked with Beek himself in his studios at Jagtlust in Blaricum NL. Peter was employed by Beek to do the colouring in of the illustrations of Noddy from book 2 onwards (mainly because Beek was suffering from ill health at the time mainly due to having lost his beloved wife, Freddie Langeler, to illness). Beek passed away quite soon after that (he had finished book 6 or 7) and Peter was contacted by David White of Samson Low Marston and Co . who he had met several times at Beeks home . along with another famous Dutch illustrator (Marten Toonder) who were both given a short period of time to come up with some preliminary illustrations for a new Noddy book. Seeing as Peter had previously already worked on the illustrations of Noddy when he worked with Beek, he had the advantage, and was given a contract by Samson Low to continue the illustrations on a lump sum basis. Peter was even sent a letter by Enid Blyton herself saying how pleased she was with Peter’s work. Peter continued to illustrate Noddy books up until Enid Blyton’s death. Despite the claim of certain illustrators of having worked closely with Peter and with Beek, both Peter nor Fritzi ten Harmsen van der Beek (Beek’s daughter and friend of Peter) had any recollection of these artists. Every now and then, Peter had other contracts for illustrations and in those times there were other illustrators who did do a few Noddy books in between.
However Peter, who was later working on the Noddy books together with his wife, Nel Koenen, was contracted full time for 17 years by Samson Low which would account for all the pre print proof books (with corrections by Peter) that we own along with many first issues.
We do not own any original water colours (apart from three that Peter made for friends and family).
Simon Bullock and Chris Bullock-Wienk
My father in law, Peter Wienk (born 11-09-1920, passed away 16-08-2010), was never interested in any claim to fame. Therefore I would like to add the following so that he may be remembered for continuing Beek’s work and keeping many children happy with his illustrations.
Peter was in fact the only person who worked with Beek himself in his studios at Jagtlust in Blaricum NL. Peter was employed by Beek to do the colouring in of the illustrations of Noddy from book 2 onwards (mainly because Beek was suffering from ill health at the time mainly due to having lost his beloved wife, Freddie Langeler, to illness). Beek passed away quite soon after that (he had finished book 6 or 7) and Peter was contacted by David White of Samson Low Marston and Co . who he had met several times at Beeks home . along with another famous Dutch illustrator (Marten Toonder) who were both given a short period of time to come up with some preliminary illustrations for a new Noddy book. Seeing as Peter had previously already worked on the illustrations of Noddy when he worked with Beek, he had the advantage, and was given a contract by Samson Low to continue the illustrations on a lump sum basis. Peter was even sent a letter by Enid Blyton herself saying how pleased she was with Peter’s work. Peter continued to illustrate Noddy books up until Enid Blyton’s death. Despite the claim of certain illustrators of having worked closely with Peter and with Beek, both Peter nor Fritzi ten Harmsen van der Beek (Beek’s daughter and friend of Peter) had any recollection of these artists. Every now and then, Peter had other contracts for illustrations and in those times there were other illustrators who did do a few Noddy books in between.
However Peter, who was later working on the Noddy books together with his wife, Nel Koenen, was contracted full time for 17 years by Samson Low which would account for all the pre print proof books (with corrections by Peter) that we own along with many first issues.
We do not own any original water colours (apart from three that Peter made for friends and family).
Simon Bullock and Chris Bullock-Wienk