Axel Scheffler
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Short description|German illustrator and animator (born 1957)}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Axel Scheffler
| image = MJK62440 Axel Scheffler (Frankfurter Buchmesse 2018).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Scheffler at the 2018 Frankfurt Book Fair
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{bda|year=1957 |month=12 |day=12 |df=y}}
| birth_place = Hamburg, West Germany
| other_names =
| education = Bath Academy of Art
| occupation = Illustrator, animator
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works = The Gruffalo
Room on the Broom
Stick Man
Zog
| children = 1
| website = {{URL|axelscheffler.com}}
}}
Axel Scheffler (born {{dob|year=1957 |month=12 |day=12 |df=y }}){{Cite web |title=Axel Scheffler |author-last1=Spreckelsen |author2-last=Kronthaler |author-first1=Tilman |author2-first=Helmut |work=nachschlage.net |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=12 April 2020 |url=http://www.nachschlage.net/search/ldi/Axel+Scheffler/68.html |language=de }} is a German illustrator and animator based in London. He is best known for his cartoon-like pictures for children's books, in particular The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, written by Julia Donaldson. He has also authored/illustrated the Pip and Posy series of books for children.
Early life
Scheffler was born on 12 December 1957 in Hamburg, West Germany.{{cite web |url= https://axelscheffler.com/who-is-he |title= Axel Scheffler who is he? |website= Axel Scheffler's official website |access-date= 16 April 2020}} He began studying the History of Art at the University of Hamburg but dropped out, deciding instead to work in alternative National Service, caring for the mentally ill. He moved to England in 1982, at the age of 25, to study visual communications at the Bath Academy of Art in Corsham, Wiltshire. The course also included being an international exchange student at Cooper Union in New York City. During these years (1982–1984) Scheffler decided to become an illustrator.{{cn|date=December 2022}}
Career
Scheffler worked in advertising and publishing after graduating in 1985. During this time he lived at Streatham Hill in London and began illustrating children's books. The first book he illustrated was The Piemakers by Helen Cresswell, in 1988. Since then he has contributed his distinctive illustrations for authors of children's books from Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands, including Julia Donaldson, Jon Blake, Paul Shipton, David Henry Wilson, Uwe Timm, Paul van Loon, and Toon Tellegen.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/94520dce-d3c6-11e7-8c9a-d9c0a5c8d5c9|title=Q&A with Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler|website=Financial Times|date=December 2017|access-date=19 January 2020|last1=Lacey|first1=Hester}}
Scheffler was commissioned by Faber and Faber to provide new illustrations for an edition of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats which commemorated the 70th anniversary of the book and the 80th anniversary of the company. The original was published in October 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.faber.co.uk/author/axel-scheffler/|title=Axel Scheffler {{!}} Authors {{!}} Faber & Faber|website=www.faber.co.uk|access-date=19 January 2020}}
He illustrated Gordon Brown's 2006 Christmas cards and all seven Christmas 2012 stamps designed by Webb & Webb Design Limited for Royal Mail.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20681731 "The Gruffalo's Axel Scheffler and Christmas stamps"]. BBC News. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
Personal life
Scheffler lives in Richmond, London with his partner and daughter.[https://www.surreylife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/illustrator-axel-scheffler-on-the-gruffalo-artistic-inspiration-and-richmond-life-1-4707142 "Illustrator Axel Scheffler on The Gruffalo, artistic inspiration and Richmond life"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208174821/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0%2C%2C1957330%2C00.html|date=8 February 2008}}. Roy Sharp. The Observer. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
- [https://axelscheffler.com/ Axel Scheffler's official website (https://axelscheffler.com)]
- {{LCAuth|n91071805|Axel Scheffler|45|ue}}
- [https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/axel-scheffler Axel Scheffler, latest news, breaking stories and comment] on The Independent
- [https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/axel-scheffler Axel Scheffler, latest news, breaking stories and comment] on the Evening Standard
- [https://www.ft.com/stream/b380889c-f331-3f08-8933-cb9d3e2a4044 Axel Scheffler] on the Financial Times
{{Authority control}}
{{The Gruffalo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scheffler, Axel}}
Category:Alumni of Bath School of Art and Design
Category:Donaldson and Scheffler
Category:German children's book illustrators
Category:German contemporary artists