Shirley Hughes was born and grew up in West Kirby, near Liverpool. She studied at Liverpool Art School and at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford, before embarking on a career as a freelance illustrator. At first she worked as an interpretive illustrator, but she began to write and design her own picture books when her children were very young. Her first book, Lucy and Tom's Day, was published in 1960. Now living in London's Notting Hill, Shirley Hughes has illustrated over two hundred children's books and is renowned as a champion of children's literature. She has been the recipient of the Other Award, the Kate Greenaway Medal and the prestigious Eleanor Farjeon Award.
There is something quintessentially comforting about Shirley Hughes' books Sunday Telegraph No-one tells a plain tale better than Shirley Hughes and her telling here is brilliantly complemented, as ever, by her stunning illustrations which are the product of a deeply compassionate and carefully sharp eye The School Librarian Hughes invites young readers into a world they will recognise and love, and shows that toughness is not everything The Sunday Times Shirley Hughes' beautifully observed - and exquisitely illustrated - books are a national treasure. In this latest Alfie adventure, our boy hero discovers that even big boys cry Independent This is one of those books that reaffirm - if reaffirmation is needed - the importance of picture books -- Chris Stephenson Carousel