Brian Wildsmith
Brian Wildsmith was raised in the mining village of Penistone, near Sheffield. He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art, where he studied for three years, then spent his National Service teaching music at the Royal Military School of Music. After his time in the Army, he became an art master, but soon gave up teaching to pursue his life-long ambition of becoming a painter.
He believed that children like good illustrations and well-designed books and are much better able to understand "difficult" art than some adults acknowledge. He said: "Picture books give an opportunity for a marriage between painting and illustrating, and the challenge of designing each page is very stimulating. I believe that beautiful picture books of the right kind are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit later in life."
Brian’s work is both provocative and stimulating and he has a world-wide reputation as one of the greatest children's illustrators. He is particularly popular in the USA, Europe and Japan. In Leningrad he was responsible for all the sets and some of the costumes for the film The Blue Bird, based on Maurice Maeterlinck's famous play, and in 1996, as a celebration of Brian's special relationship with Japan, Oxford University Press published Katie and the Dream-Eater written by Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of the Japanese Imperial Family. Brian published over 70 books with OUP over his career.
Brian died aged 86 on 31 August 2016. He is survived by his four children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Search results
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A Christmas StoryA charming retelling of the Nativity through the eyes of a little girl and a donkey. Author Brian Wildsmith 978-0-19-277776-8 Paperback | 06/05/2021 Price: £7.99 |
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The Easter StoryA stunning retelling of the Easter story from Brian Wildsmith. Author Brian Wildsmith 978-0-19-277852-9 Paperback | 11/03/2021 Price: £7.99 |
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The Easter StoryA beautiful edition of Brian Wildsmith's enduring Easter story Author Brian Wildsmith 978-0-19-276873-5 Hardback | 07/03/2019 Price: £7.99 |
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The Twelve Days of ChristmasBrian Wildsmith's magical picture book of the classic Christmas song Author Brian Wildsmith 978-0-19-276874-2 Hardback | 06/09/2018 Price: £7.99 |
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A Christmas StoryA beautiful edition of Brian Wildsmith's enduring Christmas classic. Author Brian Wildsmith 978-0-19-276872-8 Hardback | 06/09/2018 Price: £7.99 |
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Brian Wildsmith's Animal GalleryA picture book that showcases Wildsmith's most beautiful animal paintings. 978-0-19-272794-7 Paperback | 04/03/2010 Price: £7.99 |
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Brian Wildsmith's Favourite Nursery RhymesHere is a classic collection of nursery rhymes, chosen and sumptuously illustrated by Brian Wildsmith, an internationally-acclaimed writer and artist for children. Author and Illustrator: Brian Wildsmith 978-0-19-272766-4 Paperback | 05/03/2009 Price: £11.99 |
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The Hare and the TortoiseA timeless fable made immediate and fresh for the youngest readers 978-0-19-272708-4 Paperback | 07/06/2007 Price: £6.99 |
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MaryA beautiful pictorial record of the life of Mary, mother of Jesus 978-0-19-272734-3 Paperback | 01/03/2007 Price: £7.99 |
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MosesA beautiful pictorial chronicle of the life and times of Moses, previously published as Exodus 978-0-19-272733-6 Paperback | 01/03/2007 Price: £7.99 |
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