After some years of studying the period, as well as working on costume research for television, I pioneered the idea to produce a companion to her works. In 2004, as co-author and design/photographer my book: Agatha Christie, A Reader’s Companion, was published by Aurum Press. On a minimal budget, and very limited time, with no access to the family archive, or to the then private estate, this was no small task. There had never been such a pictorial study of her books or her imagined world. It remains a useful, tangible reference work today with over 220 images.
Everyone was delighted with it, with sparkling reviews from Choice magazine amongst others, including Agatha Christie Ltd, who pronounced it was ‘rather wonderful’. It reached No. 1 Christmas bestseller at Hatchards booksellers in 2004. Now available at Amazon UK.
After publication, I was asked to contribute to a documentary on Agatha Christie, ‘There’s Something About Christie‘ presented by James Fox. 14 clips were used for the hour length programme.
TV costume work • highlights: Agatha Christie ITV productions 1998-2003 assistant costume research, and 2009 Emma, BBC assisting Ros Ebbutt.
Following on from the Companion, in 2007-2011 I assisted as consultant to Harper Collins in production on the facsimile collection. This involved reproducing the hardbacks in a reprint style from the original first editions. Some can be seen in the header and are easily available today. My posts on the auction at Christie’s: the Watts collection can be read at the Christie’s Watts Collection; and the vintage paperback designs can be read here: Agatha Christie Vintage paperbacks.