George Butler
When Fishes Flew

George Butler (b.1985 in England) is an award-winning artist and illustrator specialising in travel and current affairs. Over the last ten years his desire to record scenes in ink rather than with a camera has meant he has witnessed some extraordinary moments worldwide.

When Fishes Flew, is the series of drawings that illustrate the first edition of Michael Morpurgo’s 2021 book of the same name. The author is well-known for War Horse, Why the Whales Came and Private Peaceful, among over 100 others.

Morpurgo said of Butler: “There is terrible beauty in his drawings. He means what he paints, opens our eyes and hearts to the suffering, tells the tale of our fractured humanity, helps us to know more clearly the lives of others caught up in conflict”. 

Butler’s drawings have been published by The Times (London), Monocle, New York Times, the Guardian, BBC, CNN, Der Spiegel, ARD television Germany, NPR.  His work has been shown in the Imperial War Museum North and the V&A Museum which also holds some of his work.