Raymond Briggs

Raymond Redvers Briggs was born on 18 January 1934 in England, and died on 9 August 2022. An illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist, and author, he is best known in Britain for his 1978 wordless picture book *The Snowman*, whose annual television adaptation and stage musical have become Christmas fixtures. Briggs first won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1966 for his illustrations, and again in 1973 for *Father Christmas*, which was later named one of the top-ten winning works in the award's 50-year history. He was a runner-up for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1984 and served as a patron of the Association of Illustrators. His signature style blended gentle, detailed linework with a wry, often melancholic tone, seen in collaborations with publishers and in works like *Gentleman Jim* and *Ethel & Ernest*. He also wrote and drew for European markets under titles such as *Oje, du fröhliche* and *Was macht der Weihnachtsmann im Juli?*. Active in comics from 1974 to 2017, Briggs left a legacy of emotionally resonant stories that bridged childhood wonder and adult reflection.