Author and illustrator Raymond Briggs, best known for the 1978 classic The Snowman, has died aged 88.
The announcement was made by his publisher, Penguin Random House.
The Snowman was first published as a picture book – and has sold more than 5.5 million copies worldwide – before it was made into a much-loved animation in 1982. The show went made for Channel 4 and has since become a festive staple and has been shown every Christmas since.
Briggs also created the beloved children’s books Father Christmas and Fungus The Bogeyman.
A statement from his family said: “We know that Raymond’s books were loved and touched millions of people around the world, who will be saddened to hear this news. Fan drawings, especially children’s drawings, inspired by his books were treasured by Raymond and stuck on the wall of his study.
“He lived a rich and full life and said he felt lucky to have had both his wife Jean and his partner of more than 40 years Liz in his life.
“He shared his love of nature with Liz on walks in the South Downs and family holidays in Scotland and Wales. He also shared his sense of fun and madness with his family and his family of friends artists: at get-togethers, in costumes, parties and summer picnics in the garden.
“He played practical jokes and enjoyed having them played on him. All of us who were close to him knew his irreverent humour; this could be biting his work when it came to the rulers. He liked the Guardian editorial to describe himself himself as an “iconoclast”. National treasure’.”
Aled Jones has said he owes Raymond Briggs a “debt of gratitude”. The Welsh singer rose to fame as a teenager after covering Walking in the Air, the song written by Howard Blake for the 1982 animated film The Snowman, based on Briggs’ book.
Speaking on his Classic FM radio show on Wednesday, Jones paid tribute to Briggs, saying: “What a legacy he leaves behind.
“His books have touched millions of people around the world, and what a debt of gratitude I owe to his greatest creation of all. Thank you, Raymond.”
Then he played the classic song in memory of the late author.
An extraordinary legacy
Image: Raymond Briggs at his home in Sussex
Born in Wimbledon in 1934, Briggs studied at Wimbledon School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art before turning briefly to painting.
After becoming a professional illustrator, he worked and taught illustration at Brighton College of Art.
He won numerous awards throughout his career, including the Kurt Maschler Award, Children’s Book of the Year and the Dutch Silver Pen Award. He was appointed CBE for services to literature in 2017.
Francesca Dow, Managing Director of Penguin Random House Children’s, said: “I am very proud that Puffin has been the home of Raymond’s children’s books for so many years.
“Raymond’s books are masterpieces of imagery that address some of the fundamental questions about what it is to be human, speaking to both adults and children with a remarkable economy of words and illustrations.”
He said he was “a brilliantly observant, funny, honest storyteller about what life is like rather than how adults want to tell it to children”.
“A kindness, integrity and generosity runs through all his books,” he added.
“And so in life: Raymond was a generous, unjealous spirit who was a pleasure to work with, as well as to visit at his home in Sussex and experience his mocking genius at home. He was fun! He made us laugh a lot. I will miss him. All of us who had the privilege of working with him will miss him.”
Dow said Briggs had been “one of a kind” and had “inspired generations of creators of picture books, graphic novels and animation”.
He added: “He leaves an extraordinary legacy and a big hole.”
A “Titan of Industry”
Illustrator Rob Biddulph, whose titles include Dog Gone and Blown Away, paid tribute to Brigg’s influence on the industry.
“A titan in our industry and a true one-of-a-kind,” he said.
“The Snowman was a work of undeniable genius – a game changer, not only in the world of children’s books, but also in the end of books. Thank you for inspiring me, Mr. Briggs. RIP “.
Diana Gerald, chief executive of BookTrust, which presented Briggs with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, said: “He was not shy about tackling life’s difficult challenges through his books in a natural and attractive, allowing children to feel less alone.
“He will live on in his iconic books, which have brought so much joy to so many people, and we are so grateful that he has chosen to share his incredible gifts with us.”
Cressida Cowell, author and illustrator of How To Train Your Dragon, said: “So sad to hear of the death of Raymond Briggs.
“What a magnificent legacy she leaves, from her iconic Santa and the Snowman to the terrifying Where the Wind Blows. Her books brought so much joy and inspired so much touching, funny and heartbreaking work.”
British author Lara Maiklem called Briggs “a genius”.
Maiklem, who has worked with Briggs, tweeted alongside an image of his Fungus the Bogeyman illustration: “So sad to hear about Raymond Briggs this morning.
“A big fan since I was little, I had the great fortune of working with him a few years ago.
“Great and difficult, yet he was a genius.
“Nothing is permanent except woe.”