My Biography

'If you want to learn more about my life in picture books, why not read my biography?Find out what has inspired my stories and what techniques I have used to help illustrate them'

Anthony Browne is one of the world's most celebrated creators of picture books, with classics such as "Voices in the Park", "Willy the Wimp", and "Gorilla" to his name. He has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice, the Kurt Maschler 'Emil' Award three times, and in 2000 became the first British illustrator to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to children's literature, he was appointed the UK Children's Laureate for 2009 to 2011 and to celebrate both this honour and his glorious career, we present a major retrospective of his life and work. Anthony shares insights into his childhood, his training, and his career as an artist, in this captivating memoir featuring over 200 illustrations

10 Things you didn't know about Anthony Browne

When he was a boy he wanted to be a journalist, a cartoonist, or a boxer.
He was once asked to present a programme on children’s books, in a cage with some gorillas - but one gorilla bit him badly on the leg. It didn’t put him off them, but, he says “you wouldn’t catch me going into a cage with one again!”
He grew up in a pub and when he was little, would go into the bar, stand on a table and tell stories about a character he’d made up called Big Dumb Tackle.
He wore short trousers until he was fifteen.
He thinks the character, Willy, is based on his own childhood.
When he was a boy, he wanted a real trumpet for his birthday, but he got a toy plastic one instead. He says his book, Gorilla, was partly based on that experience.
He loves rugby and played as a scrum-half for eighteen years.
His book The Tunnel was inspired by a very frightening tunnel he and his brother used to go down when they were boys.
When he was a medical artist, he would often eat his lunch in the mortuary.
He says he has never found the perfect pair of swimming shorts!