Ben Blathwayt
About Author
Benedict Blathwayt is best known for his hugely successful Little Red Train series, which are irresistible to parents with children who love machines.
Ben was born on August 15th 1951 and worked as an office boy with a firm of architects when he left school, drawing maps and dealing with photography and artists impressions. After several successful exhibitions of his own drawings and pictures in Bath and Bristol he moved first to Scotland where he worked on a farm, and then to West Wales where he became a wildlife artist in nature conservancy. Much of the inspiration that Ben has comes from his time on the farm and working as an environmental artist.
Ben strongly believes that its important to create books that you would have liked to have discovered when you were a child, and he seems to have got this just right. The Bookseller praised Blue Tractor and Yellow Digger for their clear illustrations and few words on each page, saying they are a hit with the under fives.
The Little Red Train series has sold over 950,000 copies worldwide. Many of the books are also now available in CD and DVD format! In 2008 Random House Childrens Books will publish the new-look Little Red Train books. Busy Day was published in October 2008 and includes an interactive map and brilliant cut-aways which will keep children entertained for hours! Bens next picture book for Red Fox is Dougal the Digger and is due to be published in March 2009.
Bens interests include climbing mountains, riding his bike around Exmoor, making model boats and the history of the Hebrides. Having lived on the Isle of Mull, Argyll and Mynachlog-ddu, Ben has two children and now lives with his wife in Somerset.
Interview
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