John Burningham

As an adult

John undertook many jobs as he was growing up, including framing, slum-clearance, forestry, and school building, which involved travelling through Italy, Yugoslavia, and Israel. In 1956, John started his studies at the Central School of Art, where he received a diploma in 1959. He designed posters for London Transport and the British Transport Commission, and also spent a year animating puppets for film in the Middle East. John is married to Helen Oxenbury, another well-known author and illustrator of children's books. They have one son and two daughters.

As an artist

John's first attempt at writing and illustrating a children's book was Borka: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers in 1963. It won the Kate Greenaway Medal that same year. John won the Greenaway for the second time in 1970 with Mr Gumpy's Outing. His success continued through numerous titles for both Cape and Walker, and he is regarded as one of the world's most talented picture-book makers.