David Esslemont | Solmentes Press

“I am passionate about books – my aim is to make books that are not only a pleasure to read, but a delight to all the senses. In my painting I am continuing an exploration of scale: the relationship of detail to the macroscopic.”
- David Esslemont

The English Romantic poet, John Keats (1795–1821), wrote ‘To Autumn’ in September 1819. The first line, ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,’ is now synonymous with autumn and one of the most quoted lines of verse in the English language.

To Autumn is an ‘artists book’– designed, illustrated, printed and hand bound entirely by Esslemont. Each line of the poem is illustrated with a full-page image that incorporates a lyrical composition of the words in free-flowing, pen-drawn lettering. The images are inspired by the vibrant fall colors of a maple tree in Minneapolis. And there’s more: when seen altogether, the images form a stunning montage nine feet high.

He created his most recent book, To Autumn, during the long winter months that followed his move from Minneapolis, Minnesota to a farm in northeast Iowa – it is the first book published with the Solmentes Press imprint since moving to Iowa.


David was born in Northumberland, England, and now lives and works in Iowa as an artist, designer, printer, bookbinder and publisher.

a page spread from To Autumn

Thank you to David for these thoughtful statements about his new book - I look forward to seeing it in person!