Illuminated letters

In this resource, devised by artist and illustrator Lesley Saddington, Lesley describes how to design your own illuminated letter - so called because when they were first produced only manuscripts with gold or silver were considered 'illuminated'.

Throughout his life William Morris had a passion for books. Some of his favourites were Medieval. Morris loved the design of these manuscripts as much as he delighted in their content. The layout, illustration and decoration of these manuscripts thrilled and inspired him.

An 'illuminated' manuscript is a manuscript which is decorated or illustrated. In Medieval times the process of making these manuscripts was costly and therefore only special books, such as prayer books, were illuminated. 

     "I have always been a great admirer of the calligraphy of the Middle Ages..."

Illuminated Letter pdf