Nick Bantock

Nick Bantock, born on July 14, 1949, is a British artist and author known for his unique blend of narrative and visual art. Educated in the northeast suburbs of London and later attending art college in Maidstone, Kent, Bantock embarked on his artistic career as a freelance artist at the age of 23. Over 16 years, he illustrated over 300 book covers, demonstrating his versatile artistic capabilities. In 1988, he relocated to Vancouver, Canada, and subsequently to Bowen Island, where the concept for his critically acclaimed “Griffin and Sabine” series originated.

Bantock achieved widespread recognition with the publication of “Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence” in 1991, the first book in what would become a trilogy, known for its intricate design featuring faux postage stamps, handwritten documents, and other ephemera. The series continued with “Sabine’s Notebook” (1992) and “The Golden Mean” (1993), engaging readers with a unique epistolary format. His work has been published by Raincoast Books in Canada and Chronicle Books in the United States, utilizing innovative packaging designs by Intervisual Communications, a company specializing in pop-up books. This distinct approach earned him the Bill Duthie Bookseller’s Choice Award in 1993 for “Sabine’s Notebook.”

His career progression includes adapting the “Griffin and Sabine” series into a play, which premiered in Vancouver in 2006. In 2007, Bantock transitioned back to full-time painting and established ‘The Forgetting Room’ studio-gallery on Saltspring Island. From 2007 to 2010, he contributed to Canada’s postage stamp selection committee, further cementing his influence in design. Bantock has authored over 30 books, with 11 appearing on bestseller lists, and continues to explore themes of mystery and imagination through his art and writing with works such as “The Canterbury Tales” (illustrations only) and “The Corset & The Jellyfish: A Conundrum of Drabbles” (2023).