Chris Riddell

One of the UK's top contemporary illustrators and cartoonists, Chris Riddell has written and illustrated an exceptional range of books and is winner of many illustration awards, including the UNESCO Prize, the Greenaway Medal (on three occasions) and the Hay Festival Medal for Illustration at the 2015 Hay Festival where he was described as 'the greatest illustrator of his generation.' Chris's own books include the highly-acclaimed Ottoline titles and the 2013 Costa Children's Book Award-winning Goth Girl. Chris has also worked on books for children with numerous collaborators including Paul Stewart, Neil Gaiman and Michael Rosen.

Chris Riddell studied at the Epsom School of Art and Design and was a student of Raymond Briggs at Brighton Polytechnic. As an artist and illustrator in command of a variety of forms and genres, ranging from political satire to picture books, graphic novels to cross-over fantasy, Chris demonstrates a broad understanding of visual communication for all ages. He has also been celebrated for his inclusion of themes of 'otherness' and of tolerance to a young audience without ever becoming didactic or pedantic. With an extraordinary imagination coupled with his classical drawing ability, Chris has won many diverse audiences across several generations. He was appointed Children's Laureate in 2015 in recognition of his outstanding achievements in children's books.