''From 1981 to 1984 he studied illustration at Brighton Polytechnic, where he was taught by Raymond Briggs, the children's illustrator whose first political book, When the Wind Blows, appeared in 1982. Riddell acknowledges him as a "huge influence" on his work. Briggs introduced him to his own publisher, and, while still a student, Riddell was commissioned to illustrate The Book of Giants for Sainsbury’s. It appeared in 1985.'' [1]
In 1988 Riddell was hired by the editor of the Economist to illustrate the articles of the magazine. He got a job as a political cartoonist for the Sunday Correspondent and he was also a business cartoonist for the Observer.
'' In 1989 Riddell got his first job as political cartoonist, for the short-lived Sunday Correspondent, and from 1990 to 1991 he was also business cartoonist on the Observer, producing illustrations for the personal finance pages.'' [2]
Riddell has a few influences such as Ernest Shepard [3], John Tenniel [4], and William Heath Robinson. Riddell really loves Heath Robinsons illustrations for Professor Branestawm. [5] He also likes black and white book illustrations and I think this influence can be seen throughout his work and then he started to experiment with colour when he was working for the Observer.
''"I particularly loved his illustrations for Professor Branestawm" - as well as the black and white book illustrators of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although a lover of black and white, Riddell successfully managed the transition to colour at the Observer, despite poor colour registration in the early days.'' [6]
Riddell has also illustrated covers for Punch, Economist, New Statesman and Literary review along side a massive selection of childrens books such as The Wish Factory, Goth Girl and the Ottoline Cat series.
''Riddell has drawn covers for Punch, Economist, New Statesman and Literary Review. He has also written and illustrated a large number of very successful children's books.'' [7]
[1] UNKNOWN. Biography: Chris Riddell http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/artists/chrisriddell/biography (07.10.2014)
[2] UNKNOWN. Biography: Chris Riddell http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/artists/chrisriddell/biography (07.10.2014)
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6] UNKNOWN. Biography: Chris Riddell http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/artists/chrisriddell/biography (07.10.2014)
I notice that all of the information in the post is from the same website but the information on the website was from a selection of sources. The site had a bibliography at the bottom and I will insert the references below. I am not sure which quote matches to which reference as the website does not state this.
- John Sweeney "Rats, Pigs and other Political Animals", Observer, 2 July 1995, p.4.
- Jack O'Sullivan "Can you recognise this man?", Independent, 12 May 1997, p.6.
- Chris Riddell "Blair's first birthday: 5: Drawing Tony Blair", Observer, 26 April 1998, p.27.
- "Chris Riddell honours the life and work of Chic Jacob", Observer, 17 September 2000, p.30.
- Mark Bryant Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Cartoonists and Caricaturists (Ashgate, Aldershot, 2000), pp.184-6.
- "Background on Chris Riddell" 8 July 2005 -www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/pressdesk/press.php?release=pres_green_bg_0405.html
- Phil Hogan “CARTOONS: Drawn, quartered... and now hung”, The Observer, 27 January 2008, Review p.6.
- Vanessa Thorpe “Television satirists struggle to iden-tify targets in the kingdom of the bland”, The Observer, 18 April 2010, p.24.
- "Chris Riddell creates Little Clegg Riding Hood" [video in which Chris Riddell explains - and is shown drawing - his cartoon for 4 July 2010 (BCA catalogue 81401)] www.guardian.co.uk/global/video/2010/jul/18/nickclegg
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