Rob Biddulph named LBF's Illustrator of the Fair

Author and illustrator Rob Biddulph has been announced as Illustrator of the London Book Fair (LBF) for 2020.

Biddulph will attend LBF on 10th March, speaking at the "In Conversation" event and taking part in a "Big Draw", as part of the "Illustrate Your Point" programme.

The announcement comes as the illustration programme for LBF is revealed, highlights of which include "Translating Children’s Picture Books", exploring differences in readers' expectations for children’s books around the world and the role of translator in shaping stories, and "New Formats in Children's Literature and Picture Books", about how to introduce a new children's book to foreign markets.

Biddulph said: "As a proud Londoner, I am thrilled and honoured to be the official illustrator of the fair. I’m really looking forward to meeting lots of booky people (the best kind) and am excited to talk about the importance of illustration in storytelling and maybe do a bit of drawing along the way. The fact that it’s all happening in my hometown is the icing on the cake."

LBF director Jacks Thomas said: “It‚Äôs brilliant to be hosting award-winning Rob Biddulph as Illustrator of the Fair, as part of the "Illustrate Your Point" programme. Watching the programme blossom in its third year with so many fab events and illustrators is a joy, and we are absolutely thrilled the book fair is hosting a brand new event from the book designers behind the sell-out Killed Covers events, as well as welcoming some of the best creative directors in the business for the Illustrators‚Äô Afternoon.‚Äô"

Biddulph’s first picture book Blown Away was the second illustrated book in history to win the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize. Odd Dog Out was nominated for eight literary prizes, winning the BSC Festival of Literature Picture Book Award and the UKLA Student Shadower’s Vote Book Award. His other works, also published by HarperCollins Children's Books, include GRRRRR!, Sunk!, Kevin and Give Peas a Chance, all nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. He is the official World Book Day Illustrator for 2019 and 2020.