PRESS RELEASE
12 August 2025 for immediate release
Opens at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum
13 September – 4 January 2026
A visually stunning exhibition of Paul Kidby’s work as Discworld character designer and illustrator opens at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum on Saturday 13 September. It traces his visual journey from sketchy drawings on cheap paper made by a hungry young artist to today’s beautifully refined work. Paul first met Terry in 1993 and went on to become the ‘artist of choice’ for the Discworld books. He designed the book covers from 2002 until the final volume appeared in 2015, shortly after Sir Terry’s death. Paul has also illustrated many related publications including The Art of Discworld, The Last Hero and The Ultimate Discworld Companion.
The exhibition contains a new selection of artworks, rarely seen on display, providing a unique chance for Discworld fans to see them first hand. It includes colourful paintings, exquisite pencil drawings, a bronze bust of Sir Terry sculpted by Paul and a rogue’s gallery of favourite characters including Rincewind, Twoflower, the Librarian, Tiffany Aching, the Wee Free Men, Nanny Ogg, Conina and Errol. The exhibition also features Paul’s Discworld parodies of famous artworks by Gainsborough, M C Escher, Leonardo da Vinci and Holman Hunt.
The opportunity to illustrate Discworld brought Paul’s work to a global audience, his skill in character design giving form to Sir Terry’s much-loved characters. The success of the partnership between writer and artist seemed to be based on an unspoken understanding.
Paul said: ‘When I began illustrating the novels I felt the characters were so well realised that drawing them was merely translating word to line’; while for his part Sir Terry said: ‘Paul sees things my way about 75% of the time, which suggests either mind reading is happening or that my vision of my characters is really rather vague until I see his drawings’.
Museums Worcestershire Senior Curator Deborah Fox said “We are absolutely delighted to host this stunning exhibition of Paul Kidby’s incredible work – bringing Discworld’s beloved characters to life in a way that fans won’t want to miss!”
The setting for the Discworld stories is a flat, circular world which sits on four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle swimming slowly through space. While clearly a fantasy setting alive with magic, gods and mythical creatures, Discworld has its own carefully thought-out internal logic. The books are humorous and sometimes satirical: the foibles of the massive cast of characters and the issues they face on Discworld have clearly recognisable origins on our own world. Paul’s artwork helps them to step off the page as convincing and relatable individuals. The exhibition showcases Paul’s incredible technique and wry sense of humour, bringing Sir Terry’s colourful characters and settings to life.
Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: 30 Years of Paul Kidby’s Illustrations is a touring exhibition on loan from St Barbe Museum + Art Gallery. Don’t miss it at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum from 13 September until 4 January. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm. Tickets available from museumsworcestershire.org.uk/events/designing-terry-pratchetts-discworld-30-years-of-paul-kidbys-illustration
Ends
For further information please contact: Helen Large at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, email Helen.Large@worcester.gov.uk
Image Credit: All images © Paul Kidby
There will be a photo opportunity on Thursday 11 September, 11am. Please contact Helen if you wish to attend.
Exhibition Details:
Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld
30 Years of Paul Kidby’s Illustrations
Saturday 13 September – Sunday 4 January 2026 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm
For tickets see www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk
A unique exhibition which brings together a stunning selection of Paul Kidby’s paintings and drawings of Discworld characters.
Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld events and activities at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum:
Saturday 13 September 11am – 1pm, Special opening event
Join us on the flat planet for the opening day of the exhibition. Take part in the fantasy with live music and entertainment.
Friday 24 October, 6.30 – 9pm, Museum after Hours – On the Shoulders of Elephants!
Get your friends together on a Friday night as Museum After Hours returns with a Discworld theme!
Why not step foot on the flat planet and take part in the fantasy at the ‘Mended Drum’. Join us for a drop of Scumble and listen to our Discworld DJs ‘Le Grande Fromage.’ Even Rincewind himself may put in an appearance. It’s a Splendiferous way to start the weekend!
Free entry (including free entry to exhibition during the event). No booking needed.
Museum After Hours is aimed at adults, 18+.
Tuesday 11 November 2025, 2 – 2.30pm, Bite-size Talk, £4.50
Paul Kidby is best known for his art based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series of fantasy novels and is celebrated in the exhibition Designing Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: 30 Years of Paul Kidby’s Illustrations.
This talk by our museum curator will take a look behind the scenes of the exhibition and also delves into Worcester City’s own art collection to show work by other illustrators such as Randolph Caldecott, to explore the importance of this wonderful artform.