Stephen Cartwright

Stephen Cartwright (28 December 1947 – 12 February 2004) was a British children's book illustrator who illustrated more than 150 books which sold millions of copies worldwide. His illustrations are noted for being instantly recognisable and usually depicting open-faced, innocent-looking children and animals.^[1]

Stephen Cartwright
Born	(1947-12-28)28 December 1947 Bolton, England
Died	12 February 2004(2004-02-12) (aged 56)
Education	Rochdale College of Art, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, Royal College of Art
Known for	Drawing, illustration, painting
Notable work	First Thousand Words

Life and career

Cartwright was born in Bolton, England, and studied at Rochdale College of Art before moving to London where he trained at Saint Martin's School of Art, and then at the Royal College of Art^[1] to study illustration under Brian Robb and Quentin Blake. Soon after graduating, he joined the new book publishers, Usborne Publishing.^[2]

Cartwright's early work has been likened to Dudley Watkins and Leo Baxendale, with his 1970s work incorporating comic strip style, such as in Time Traveller series.^[2] Usborne's First Thousand Words, first published in 1979, was Cartwright's first international success and was translated into 55 languages.^[1] It was in this book, and ones that followed, that Cartwright incorporated a small yellow duck into his larger illustrations. The reader was prompted to find the duck on each page or find "where’s Quacky?" The Times characterised his work from the 1980s onwards as "scenes of contemporary life conveyed a bonhomie which was typical of the artist himself."^[2]

Cartwright was married Di Miggs, with whom he had a son and a daughter.^[2]

Selected books illustrated by Stephen Cartwright

• Civardi, Anne; Graham-Campbell, James (2003). The Usborne Time Traveller Viking Raiders. Usborne. ISBN 978-0-7460-3073-8.
• Rawson, Christopher; Stephen, Cartwright (1979). The Usborne Book of Dragons. Usborne. ISBN 0-86020-336-0.
• Rawson, Christopher; Stephen, Cartwright. The Usborne Book of Witches. Usborne.
• Rawson, Christopher; Stephen, Cartwright. The Usborne Book of Giants. Usborne.
• Rawson, Christopher; Stephen, Cartwright. The Usborne Book of Princes & Princesses. Usborne.
• Rawson, Christopher; Stephen, Cartwright. The Usborne Book of Gnomes, Goblins & Fairies. Usborne.
• Rawson, Christopher; Stephen, Cartwright (1980). The Usborne Book of Wizards. Usborne. ISBN 0-86020-380-8.
• Rawson, Christopher; Stephen, Cartwright (1981). The Usborne Book of Robbers. Usborne. ISBN 0-86020-569-X.

External link

• Stephen Cartwright at Findagrave