One of Bermuda’s most accomplished living artists, best known for his work on The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, is to host a large-scale, family-friendly exhibition next month.

Michael Frith will showcase work from his personal collection for the first time in The Art of Michael K Frith: From Pencil to Puppet at the Bermuda National Gallery on October 17.

The gallery said the show celebrates Mr Frith’s life and work, as well as his “enormous contribution” to the worlds of entertainment, education and popular culture.

Mr Frith said he was “extremely flattered, humbled and a bit surprised” when the gallery suggested putting on the show.

He said: “In pulling it together, I’ve found myself looking back over a lifetime of pushing a pencil around and how that’s given me the great privilege of working with so many extraordinarily talented people to bring so many characters, and sometimes whole worlds, to life, and always in the service of messages of positivity, learning and hope.

“If this exhibit inspires anyone, particularly among the young, to explore their dreams, to find the great joy in creative collaboration and to find a way to put something out there that sends a message of hope, it will have done its job.

“For me, it is so very touching and meaningful that this is happening here, in my homeland, where those dreams began. Thank you, Bermuda National Gallery.”

Mr Frith started out as a children’s book editor and illustrator, working closely with Theodor Seuss Geisel, who went by the pen name Dr Seuss, on the groundbreaking Beginner Books series.

In 1975, he joined Jim Henson Productions as head of art and design.

He spent more than 20 years at the company, including as director of creative services and executive vice-president.

He designed numerous Muppet characters and was the conceptual designer and co-creator of Fraggle Rock, which took inspiration from his Bermudian childhood.

In 1996, Mr Frith cofounded Sirius Thinking, which produced the award-winning Public Broadcast Service reading series Between the Lions.

After 9/11, Mr Frith left broadcasting to launch No Strings Productions, a charity that makes “life-saving educational puppet films” for populations at risk in developing countries.

The works on show at the BNG will span his career, from adverts he drew for Masters Ltd while working there as an office boy one summer, to hundreds of original artworks produced for Dr Seuss and Jim Henson.

There will also be lots of original puppets including The Muppet Show’s Fozzie Bear and Scooter, and Fraggle Rock’s Gobo, Mokey and Uncle Travelling Matt, on loan from the Centre for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

Eve Godet Thomas, the director of exhibitions at the BNG, said: “When Michael and I first met several years ago to discuss the possibility of an exhibition of his work, it was to be on a much smaller scale and to focus on Fraggle Rock.

“It has since grown exponentially, now with over 350 items on display, and has become one of the most ambitious and exciting shows that BNG has produced.

“We are incredibly grateful to Michael and his wife, Kathy, for all of their help and support in producing the show, and in so generously loaning such a vast array of artworks and artefacts.”

The BNG thanked sponsors and all who have supported the exhibition, including title sponsor Masters Ltd.

Chris Coelho, the president of Masters, said: “During one summer in the mid-1950s, Masters Ltd hired a teenage Michael K. Frith to run errands and create drawings for newspaper ads.

“This proved to be a mutually beneficial arrangement as Masters was supplied with whimsical ads to showcase their products while providing a young, gifted Bermudian artist with an opportunity to publicly showcase his abilities early on.

“Masters is proud to have played a small part to set Michael on the path to a long and illustrious international career.”

Admission is free to The Art of Michael K Frith: From Pencil to Puppet and made possible by The Christian Humann Foundation.

BNG members are invited to attend the opening reception on October 16. Anyone who becomes a gallery member between now and early October will be sent an invitation.

As part of Bermuda’s third annual Art Month celebrations, the BNG will be hosting a conversation with Mr Frith and Karen Falk, archives director for The Jim Henson Company, on October 18. This will explore the enduring cultural impact of the Muppets.

Tickets are $20 for BNG members, $30 for non-members and free for teachers, and can be booked at www.bng.bm.