Lifetime Achievement Award for Raymond Briggs

The children's author and illustrator behind classics including The Snowman, Fungus the Bogeyman and Ethel and Ernest, has achieved a lifetime award in recognition of his work.

Briggs was awarded the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award today. The award celebrates the body of work of an author or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to children's literature. 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." The award was set up in 2015 to celebrate an author or illustrator's outstanding contribution to children's books. The first winner was Shirley Hughes, author of Dogger and the Alfie series, whilst Judith Kerr was awarded the accolade in 2016. This year's judges included Children's Laureate Chris Riddell, human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti, author and illustrator Cressida Cowell, poet John Agard, writer Nicolette Jones, and BookTrust's CEO Diana Gerald. Briggs was born in 1934 - his parents were the inspiration for his book, Ethel and Ernest - and he was interested in cartooning from an early age and went on to become a professional illustrator. His publisher, Francesca Dow, MD of Penguin Random House Children's Books, said Briggs has "revolutionised" how children's stories are told: "Raymond is a genius. Utterly original. He has revolutionised how stories are told - without words, in little strips of pictures - and what stories for children can be about - a Snowman who melts, a Bogeyman who ponders the meaning of life, what happens to ordinary folk in a nuclear attack. We are proud to be his publishers and we salute him!" His artistic genius has touched the hearts of millions of children of all ages, added judge Shami Chakrabarti. "They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and his particular style of illustration is unmistakable as are his understated and poignant words of narrative and dialogue. His talent expresses his values and with his choice and treatment of subjects he brings our history and contemporary challenges to life."