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John Burningham | Artist
John Burningham was an award-winning artist and illustrator, known especially for the wit and humour in his storytelling and artwork. His critically acclaimed picture books are loved all over the world. Titles include Humbert, Granpa, Oi, get off our train!, Would You Rather, and Patrick Norman McHennessy: The Boy Who Was Always Late. In addition to his picture books, John published books for older readers including Around the World in Eighty Days, England, France, The Time of your Life and Champagne.
John won numerous awards during his career, including the Kate Greenaway Award in 1963 for his first picture book, Borka, The Adventures of a Goose with No Feathers. This success set wheels in motion and John was asked to create the art for Ian Fleming’s new children’s story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Originally published in three volumes in 1964–1965, John’s witty and timeless artwork, along with Fleming’s imaginative text, led Chitty to become the most famous car in English language fiction
Born in 1936, John went on to marry illustrator Helen Oxenbury and they lived for many years in Hampstead, London. In 2018 John and Helen were jointly presented with the Book Trust Lifetime Achievement Award for their work in children’s publishing. The Estate of John Burningham has been set up by John’s family to keep awareness of his books and work alive.
