About the artist
W D Underwood was the artist responsible for Knight’s first full run of the Jill paperbacks, published in the early 1970s. Jill has been updated from Caney’s girl-with-plaits to someone with a blonde bob, but some other things have actually reverted back. One notable thing about the covers is that they show Black Boy as a black pony – this was despite the fact those books Bonar Dunlop had illustrated kept their internal illustrations, which plainly have him as a piebald, as does the text. I can only think that Underwood was given a set of the original books to read (or a brief from someone who’d only read the originals).
I have to admit the only reason I have any affection for this style is because they’re the first Jill books I ever read. Looking at them now from the cold distance of adulthood, they don’t really appeal. Underwood, I think, was better at humans than ponies, though I do like his Jill in Hill and the Perfect Pony. Underwood has caught brilliantly that sudden shock at being deposited on the floor by your pony.
As for the ponies, my favourite is Jill Has Two Ponies, one of the better covers from that series. I think it gives you a good idea of Jill’s relationship with Rapide.
As for the illustrator themselves, W D Underwood is an illustrator about whom I have been able to find no biographical or other information at all.
Bibliography (horse books only)
Ruby Ferguson: Jill’s Gymkhana
Knight, 1970
Ruby Ferguson: A Stable for Jill
Knight, 1973
Ruby Ferguson: Jill Has Two Ponies
Knight, 1973
Ruby Ferguson: Jill Enjoys Her Ponies
Knight, 1972
Ruby Ferguson: Jill’s Riding Club
Knight, 1973
Ruby Ferguson: Rosettes for Jill
Knight, 1973
Ruby Ferguson: Jill and the Perfect Pony
Knight, 1971
Ruby Ferguson: Pony Jobs for Jill
Knight, 1973
Ruby Ferguson: Jill’s Pony Trek
Knight, 1972
