Raymond Briggs receives BookTrust's lifetime achievement award

Raymond Briggs has been awarded this year’s BookTrust lifetime achievement award.

The creator of classic books such as The Snowman and Father Christmas will be presented with the prize at a ceremony in London later today by the current children’s laureate Chris Riddell.

Briggs said: “It’s lovely to be given an award for all my life achievements. Drawing, telling stories and sharing these adventures is something I’ve always been passionate about. Being awarded the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award is an incredible honour and I’m so glad I’ve been able to make such an impression on people.”

The illustrator was chosen by a panel of six judges, including Riddell and BookTrust c.e.o. Diana Gerald, who said: “It is truly an honour to be presenting our third Lifetime Achievement Award to someone with such captivating and inspiring work. Raymond continues to have such a widespread impact on both children and adults and the award is so very well deserved.”

Born in 1934 in London, Briggs embarked on a career as a painter before becoming an illustrator. He is perhaps best-known for The Snowman (Penguin Random House Children’s), which was later turned into an animated film and is now a brand in its own right. Most recently, his graphic novel Ernest and Ethel (Jonathan Cape), based on his parents, was adapted into a BBC film.

Briggs has won several awards in his career and has received the Kate Greenaway Medal twice: in 1966 for Mother Goose Treasury (Hamish Hamilton) and in 1973 for Father Christmas (Puffin).

BookTrust’s lifetime achievement award is now in its third year. Its first winner was Shirley Hughes and last year the prize went to Judith Kerr.