Few people have captured our collective imagination quite like Raymond Briggs, the celebrated author, illustrator and graduate of the UCL Slade School of Fine Art.
Perhaps best known for The Snowman, the beloved wordless story of a boy and his magical winter companion, Raymond Briggs (1934 – 2022) drew on his own fears and experiences to create timeless children’s stories, often dark and joyous in equal measure.
Born in Wimbledon in 1934 to Ernest, a milkman, and Ethel, a former lady’s maid, Briggs grew up in a modest working-class household. His parents valued stability and his father worried that art school might not lead to a secure living. However, Briggs persisted, studying at Wimbledon School of Art, then the Central School of Arts and Crafts, before continuing his training at the UCL Slade School of Fine Art. He graduated in 1957.
Although illustration was sometimes dismissed in art schools at the time, Briggs remained determined to tell stories through drawing.
One day (Professor Townsend) said to me “You have this extraordinary ability to paint realistic scenes from your imagination without any references”… and it dawned on me that this was what I should be doing.
Briggs lost both his parents and wife to cancer in the early 1970s and lived through the Cold and Second World Wars, events that deeply affected his writing. His work subverted traditional children’s storytelling, often blending humour, fantasy and melancholy with biting political and social commentary.
Briggs began his career illustrating children’s books before creating his own distinctive works, including Father Christmas (1973), The Snowman (1978) and Fungus the Bogeyman (1977). Later, his graphic novel When the Wind Blows (1982) offered a haunting portrayal of an elderly couple facing nuclear war, while Ethel & Ernest (1998) lovingly chronicled the lives of his parents across the upheavals of the 20th century.
Briggs remained fascinated by ordinary people and everyday experiences of life, loss and love. His distinctive pencil and pastel illustrations, combined with understated narratives, helped redefine what storytelling could be.
Many of his stories have been adapted into acclaimed animated films, TV dramas, and stage shows. From childhood wonder to compelling reflections on society and power, Briggs’ work continues to resonate with readers and audiences around the world.
Top photo: Rob Croes for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources and explore further
- Raymond Briggs: The iconic illustrator unafraid to tackle tragedy, BBC Arts (2022)
- Raymond Briggs obituary, The Guardian (2022)
- Snowstorm in a teacup, UCL People magazine (2002)
