Mary Gernat

Gernat was born in Ewell, Surrey, 1926,[1] and underwent training at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and Regent Street Polytechnic.[1]

Much of her work was for Armada Books.[2] She also produced dust jacket designs for some hardback editions,[3] and covers for magazines such as The Tatler.[4]

She married Michael How, an engineer,[5] in 1953.[6] She had four sons, whom she used as models for her designs,[2][7] and much later a daughter.[8] From 1963 the family lived in Milford on Sea, and in 1970 they moved to Lymington.[8] In later life she developed multiple sclerosis and after ceasing to paint professionally, continued to do so for pleasure.[1] She died in 1998.[1]

In May 2019, 120 of her paintings and sketches were shown on the BBC Television programme Antiques Roadshow by one of her sons, in whose possession they remain.[2]

Among the books whose covers were designed by Gernat were:[2]

• A number by Enid Blyton
• Books by Frank Richards in the Billy Bunter series
• Books by Richmal Crompton 'Jimmy' series
• David Whitaker Doctor Who and the Crusaders - and early Doctor Who spin-off book
• Malcolm Saville: The Sign of the Alpine Rose (1963)[9]
• Books by Monica Edwards[9]
• Sheila K. McCullagh's Griffin Pirate Stories (also known as The Griffin Readers in original editions) that were published by EJ Arnold & Sons Limited for reading in primary/infant schools from the 1950s through to the late 1980s.

• Family photograph of Gernat
• Facebook page about Gerant, run by her son Roger How
• Enid Blyton Society page on Gernat
• World of Blyton blog posts about Gernat