Susan Moor

We are all deeply saddened by the recent death of Susan Moor, one of the earliest members of Quarto, a phenomenal book artist, scholar, teacher and friend.

As a renowned calligrapher and a scholar of illuminated manuscripts, Susan’s own work was often breath-taking in its attention to detail. On several occasions, Susan shared her research with us at Quarto and listening to her was fascinating: her passion was infectious and her ability to explain complex ideas in terms a lay-person could understand made her research so accessible.

Susan was the maker of exceptional books – those she put into the swap were always deeply desirable objects, coveted by everyone who saw them. When we all displayed our work together at the start of each meeting, no one ever needed to ask which book was Susan’s: her talents as both calligrapher and artist made her books a visual joy, and her eclectic knowledge and vast range of interests led her to interpret each theme in a completely unique way – only Susan, when given the theme of ‘Butterflies’ could have created an incredible ‘Killing Jar’ book!    Those fortunate enough to draw her name in the swap took home true works of art.

Aside from her talents as an artist, Susan was also a patient and skilful teacher. For many of us who joined Quarto in later years, she was the gatekeeper to both calligraphy and book making, opening up the possibilities for us of what a ‘book’ could be.  She was generous to a fault with ideas and inspiration and was always happy to give advice and make suggestions about paper and ink choices, techniques and formats.  It was always fascinating to see the structures Susan had taught us re-surfacing in later book swaps.

Above all, Susan was a much-loved friend, someone with a strong sense of humour and the absurd, who brightened up a room just by being in it.  We will always miss her.

(The photos on this page are of just some of Susan's Quarto creations.  If anyone has any other photos of her books they'd like to share, please do email them to me and I'll add them to this post!)

UPDATED: Many thanks to Janet Ashmore, who has shared her photos of the book she received from Susan in 2007.  The pen lid alongside gives a really good indication of scale.