Raymond Briggs

Trained at Wimbledon College of Art and the Slade, Raymond Briggs changed the face of children’s picture books with his innovations of both form and subject. Nicolette Jones's insightful commentary highlights how Briggs’s eclectic style helped him explore profound and resonant themes. Briggs embraced ideas that defied expectations of picture books. He depicted mud and slime and infused his books with themes of class, conflict, and complex emotions. His works appeal to a broad audience. His classic 'The Snowman', which has no text, pioneered narrative in comic strip form, leaving a legacy for both children’s and adult authors. His empathy and ability to provoke joy and grief show how his illustrations elevate the ordinary.