Richard Ayto is an award-winning children's book illustrator and author. He was born in Chichester

Chichester

Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...

 in 1960 and grew up in Kidlington

Kidlington

Kidlington is a large village and civil parish between the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, north of Oxford and southwest of Bicester.-History:...

, Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....

. After school he worked in the Histopathology

Histopathology

Histopathology refers to the microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease...

 Department of the John Radcliffe Hospital

John Radcliffe Hospital

The John Radcliffe Hospital is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England.It is the main teaching hospital for Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University. As such, it is a well-developed centre of medical research. It also incorporates the Medical School of the University of Oxford....

 before studying at Oxford Polytechnic and Exeter College, Exeter

Exeter College, Exeter

Exeter College is a tertiary college in the city of Exeter, Devon, England, providing further education for 16-18 year old students, including apprenticeships, A levels and the International Baccalaureate, as well as a range of courses for 14-16 year-olds, higher education and adult courses,...

 where he gained a degree in Graphic Design. He gained work with Observer Magazine and Time Out and began illustrating adult fiction before his work was spotted by Walker Books

Walker Books

Walker Books is an independent British publisher of children's books, founded in 1978 by Sebastian Walker.The success of their Where's Wally? series enabled them to expand into the American market, starting a sister company called Candlewick Press in 1991.Amelia Edwards, co-founder of Walker Books,...

 and he moved to illustrating children's fiction. He currently lives with his family in Penzance

Penzance

Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...

, Cornwall

Cornwall

Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...

.

Recognition

• 2003 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
  Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
  The Nestlé Children's Book Prize, also known as the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, was an annual award given to children's books written in the previous year by a UK citizen or resident. The prize was administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading, and sponsored by...
  
   Gold Award for The Witch's Children and the Queen
  The Witch's Children and the Queen
  The Witch's Children and the Queen is a children's picture book written by Ursula Jones and illustrated by Russell Ayto, published in 2003. It won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award and was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal....
  
  by Ursula Jones
• 2004 Kate Greenaway Medal
  Kate Greenaway Medal
  The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
  
   shortlist for One More Sheep
• 2008 Booktrust Early Years Award Pre-school shortlist for The Cow That Lad an Egg
• 2008 Roald Dahl Funny Prize for The Witch's Children go to School

Adult cover art

• Oxford Coffee Houses, 1651-1800 by Norma Albertin-Potter & Alyx Bennett, publ Hampden, 1987
• Why Are We in Vietnam?
  Why Are We in Vietnam?
  Why Are We In Vietnam? is a 1967 novel written by the American author Norman Mailer. The action focuses on a hunting trip to the Brooks Range in Alaska where a young man is brought by his father, a wealthy businessman who works for a company that makes cigarette filters and is obsessed with killing...
  
  by Norman Mailer
  Norman Mailer
  Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
  
  , publ. Oxford University Press
  Oxford University Press
  Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
  
   edition, 1988
• Fludd
  Fludd (novel)
  Fludd is a 1989 novel written by Hilary Mantel and first published by Viking Press, it won the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize that year.It is set in 1956, in Fetherhoughton, a fictional town somewhere on the moors of northern England, it centres on the convent and Roman Catholic church in the...
  
  by Hilary Mantel
  Hilary Mantel
  Hilary Mary Mantel CBE , née Thompson, is an English novelist, short story writer and critic. Her work, ranging in subject from personal memoir to historical fiction, has been short-listed for major literary awards...
  
  , 1st edition, Viking Press
  Viking Press
  Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
  
  , 1989

1990s

Harry and the Lady Next Door by Gene Zion, BBC Books BBC Books BBC Books is an imprint majority owned and managed by Random House. The minority shareholder is BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation... , 1991 Quacky Quack-quack! by Ian Whybrow Ian Whybrow Ian Whybrow is a prolific writer of children’s books since his first was published in 1989. He has written over 100 books for children, has been translated into 27 languages and is published in 28 countries. When interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford on 24 March 2009 he stated that he had written 110... , Walker Books Walker Books Walker Books is an independent British publisher of children's books, founded in 1978 by Sebastian Walker.The success of their Where's Wally? series enabled them to expand into the American market, starting a sister company called Candlewick Press in 1991.Amelia Edwards, co-founder of Walker Books,... , 1991 Broops Down the Chimney by Nicholas Fisk Nicholas Fisk Nicholas Fisk is the pseudonym of David Higginbottom , a writer of science fiction books, mainly for children. His works include Grinny, You Remember Me, Space Hostages and Trillions... , Walker Books, 1991 Trouble at the North Pole by Effin Older Heinemann Young, 1992 Cinderella and the Hot Air Balloon by Ann Jungman Ann Jungman Ann Jungman is an author of children's literature. She was born in Highgate, North London and studied Law at Exeter University before training as a primary school teacher.-Professional life:... , Frances Lincoln Frances Lincoln Publishers Frances Lincoln Publishers is a British book publishing company based in London, founded by Frances Lincoln.The company was founded in 1977. It produces illustrated books, especially on art, architecture, design, gardening, landscape, and walking. In 1983, Francis Lincoln also started to publish... , 1992 Denzil the Dog Polisher by Andrew Matthews, Methuen Young, 1993 Little Luis and the Bad Bandit by Ann Jungman, Walker Books, 1993 Lazy Jack by Vivian French, Walker Books, 1994 The Stray Cat's Tale by Ian Strachan, Heinemann, 1995 The Peckthorn Monster by Hazel Townson Hazel Townson Hazel Townson was an English children's-literature author. She had over fifty books published from 1975 onwards, including in countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, France and Japan.-Career:... , Mammoth, 1995 Mr Potter's Pig by Phyllis Root, Walker Books, 1996 Ella and the Naughty Lion by Anne Cottringer, Mammoth, 1996 Henry Pond the Poet by Dick King-Smith Dick King-Smith Ronald Gordon King-Smith OBE, Hon.M.Ed. , better known by his pen name Dick King-Smith, was a prolific English children's author, best known for writing The Sheep-Pig, retitled in the United States as Babe the Gallant Pig, on which the movie Babe was based... , Hodder, 1996

Tale of the Terrible Teeth by Hazel Townson, Heinemann, 1996 A Little Too late! by Shirley Jackson Shirley Jackson Shirley Jackson was an American author. A popular writer in her time, her work has received increasing attention from literary critics in recent years... , Ladybird Books Ladybird Books Ladybird Books is a London-based publishing company, trading as a stand-alone imprint within the Penguin Group of companies. The Ladybird imprint publishes mass-market children's books.-History:... , 1997 Rollerblading Royals by Karen Wallace, Hodder, 1997 A Funny Sort of Dog by Elizabeth Laird Elizabeth Laird Elizabeth Laird is an author of many books for children, including picture books and books for older children. Her novels include Red Sky in the Morning, Secrets of the Fearless and Kiss the Dust.-Biography:... , Mammoth, 1997 The Worm and the Toffee Nosed Princess by Eva Ibbotson Eva Ibbotson Eva Ibbotson was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her award-winning children's books as well as her novels for adults - several of which have been successfully reissued for the young adult readership in recent years.-Personal life:Eva Ibbotson was born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner... , Hodder, 1997 Baby Bird by Joyce Dunbar Joyce Dunbar Joyce Dunbar is an English writer. She primarily writes books for children, and has published over seventy books. Dunbar is perhaps best known for Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep, This Is The Star, and the Mouse And Mole series... , Walker Books, 1998 A Hiccup on the High Seas by Karen Wallace, A & C Black A & C Black A & C Black is a British book publishing company.The firm was founded in 1807 by Adam and Charles Black in Edinburgh, and moved to the Soho district of London in 1889. In 1851, the firm bought the copyright of Walter Scott's Waverley Novels for £27,000. In 1902 it published P. G... , 1998 Let the Sun Shine by Kaye Webb Kaye Webb Kaye Webb was a British journalist and publisher. She was editor of Puffin Books between 1961 and 1979, and in 1967 founded the Puffin Club, which she ran until 1981. As a journalist she worked on publications including Picture Post, Lilliput and the News Chronicle, and later edited the Young...  (editor), Frances Lincoln, 1998 Choose Your Superhero (poems) by Norman Silver, Hodder, 1998 Gordon (Pet Pals) by Anne Cottringer, Orchard Books Orchard books Orchard Books is a publisher of children's books active in the US and UK.Orchard Books was founded in 1986 by Grolier, an encyclopedia publisher, as a children's publisher. Grolier was acquired by Hachette two years later... , 1999 Where's Tim's Ted? by Ian Whybrow, HarperCollins HarperCollins HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide... , 1999 Whiff by Ian Whybrow, Doubleday, 1999

2000s

You'll Grow Soon, Alex by Andrea Shavick, Orchard Books, 2000 Happy Family by Shirley Jackson, Ladybird, 2000 My Dog by June Crebbin, Walker Books, 2001 Herbie Monkey by Martin Waddell Martin Waddell Martin Waddell is a prolific, award winning children's author. He has lived most of his life in Newcastle, County Down and is most famous for his engaging Big Bear, Little Bear and Little Dracula series.... , Walker Books, 2001 The Witch's Children by Ursula Jones, Orchard Books, 2001 Strange Exchange by Pat Thomson, Barn Owl Books, 2002 Farmer Smart's Fat Cat by James Sage, Chronicale Books, 2002 Emily's Legs by Dick King-Smith, Hodder, 2002 Going Up by Martin Waddell, Walker Books, 2003 Cup Run by Martin Waddell, Walker Books, 2003 The Witch's Children and the Queen The Witch's Children and the Queen The Witch's Children and the Queen is a children's picture book written by Ursula Jones and illustrated by Russell Ayto, published in 2003. It won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award and was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.... by Ursula Jones, Orchard Books, 2003 Super Sue by Cressida Cowell Cressida Cowell Cressida Cowell is an English children's author who wrote the Hiccup series of books.- Personal life :Cowell lives in London with her husband Simon, a former director and interim CEO of the International Save the Children Alliance; daughters Maisie and Clementine; and son Alexander... , Candlewick Press, 2003 Star Striker Titch by Martin Waddell, Walker Books, 2003 Mr Beast by James Sage, HarperCollins, 2004 One More Sheep by Mij Kelly, Hodder, 2005 Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Giles Andreae Giles Andreae Giles Andreae is a British poet, creator of the personae "Purple Ronnie" and "Edward Monkton". He is an artist and greeting card writer.-Life:... , Puffin Books Puffin Books Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:... , 2005 Super Sue at Super School by Cressida Cowell, Candlewick Press, 2005

One Voice, Please by Sam McBratney, Walker Books, 2005 The Big Adventure (Monster & Frog) by Rose Impey, Orchard Books, 2006 Get Fit (Monster & Frog) by Rose Impey, Orchard Books, 2006 Tim, Ted and the Pirates by Ian Whybrow, HarperCollins, 2006 The Slippery Wallpaper (Monster & Frog) by Rose Impey, Orchard Books, 2006 The Terrible Toothache (Monster & Frog) by Rose Impey, Orchard Books, 2006 All-in-together Cake (Monster & Frog) by Rose Impey, Orchard Books, 2006 The Haunted Tent (Monster & Frog) by Rose Impey, Orchard Books, 2006 Mind the Baby (Monster & Frog) by Rose Impey, Orchard Books, 2007 Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs: Missing Treasure! by Giles Andreae, Puffin, 2007 The Cow That Laid An Egg by Andy Cutbill, HarperCollins, 2007 Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs Activity Book by Giles Andeae, Puffin, 2008 Where Teddy Bears Come From by Mark Burgess Mark Burgess (children's author) Mark Burgess is best-known as an English author and illustrator of children's literature. He has illustrated books by Tony Bradman and Martin Waddell... , Puffin, 2008 The Cow That Was the Best Moo-Ther by Andy Cutbill, HarperCollins, 2009 The Witch's Children Go to School by Ursula Jones, Orchard Books, 2009 The Best Cow in Show by Andy Cutbill, HarperCollins, 2009 Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs - The Magic Cutlass by Giles Andreae, Puffin, 2009

2010s

• The Love Bugs by Simon Puttock, HarperCollins, 2010
• Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs - Smugglers Bay! by Giles Andreas, Puffin, 2010
• First Week at Cow School by Andy Cutbill, HarperCollins, 2011