Axel Scheffler

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Axel Scheffler
Scheffler at the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair
Scheffler at the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair
Born (1957-12-12) 12 December 1957 (age 66)
Hamburg, West Germany
OccupationIllustrator, animator
EducationBath Academy of Art
Notable worksThe Gruffalo
Room on the Broom
Stick Man
Zog
Children1
Website
axelscheffler.com

Axel Scheffler (born (1957-12-12)12 December 1957)[1] is a German illustrator and animator based in London. He is best known for his cartoon-like pictures for children's books, in particular The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, written by Julia Donaldson. He has also authored/illustrated the Pip and Posy series of books for children.

Early life[edit]

Scheffler was born on 12 December 1957 in Hamburg, West Germany.[2] He began studying the History of Art at the University of Hamburg but dropped out, deciding instead to work in alternative National Service, caring for the mentally ill. He moved to England in 1982, at the age of 25, to study visual communications at the Bath Academy of Art in Corsham, Wiltshire. The course also included being an international exchange student at Cooper Union in New York. During these years (1982–1984) that Scheffler decided to become an illustrator.[citation needed]

Career[edit]

Scheffler worked in advertising and publishing after graduating in 1985. During this time he lived at Streatham Hill in London and began illustrating for children's books. The first book he illustrated was The Piemakers by Helen Cresswell, in 1988. Since then he has contributed his distinctive illustrations for authors of children's books from Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands, including Julia Donaldson, Jon Blake, Paul Shipton, David Henry Wilson, Uwe Timm, Paul van Loon, and Toon Tellegen.[3]

Scheffler was commissioned by Faber and Faber to provide new illustrations for an edition of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats which commemorated the 70th anniversary of the book and the 80th anniversary of the company. The original was published in October 2009.[4]

He illustrated Gordon Brown's 2006 Christmas cards and all seven Christmas 2012 stamps designed by Webb & Webb Design Limited for Royal Mail.[5]

Personal life[edit]

Scheffler lives in Richmond, London with his partner and daughter.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Spreckelsen, Tilman; Kronthaler, Helmut (15 July 2013). "Axel Scheffler". nachschlage.net (in German). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Axel Scheffler who is he?". Axel Scheffler's official website. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. ^ Lacey, Hester (December 2017). "Q&A with Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler". Financial Times. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Axel Scheffler | Authors | Faber & Faber". www.faber.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  5. ^ "The Gruffalo's Axel Scheffler and Christmas stamps". BBC News. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Illustrator Axel Scheffler on The Gruffalo, artistic inspiration and Richmond life" Archived 8 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Roy Sharp. The Observer. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2014.

External links[edit]

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