Jan Pieńkowski

Jan Michel Pieńkowski (born 8th August, 1936 in Warsaw, Poland) is a Polish-born British illustrator and author of children's books.

Pieńkowski illustrated his first book at the age of eight, as a present for his father. During World War II, Pieńkowski's family moved about Europe, finally settling in Herefordshire, England in 1946. He attended the Vaughn School in London, and later read English and Classics at King's College, Cambridge.

After leaving university Pieńkowski founded the Gallery Five greeting cards company. He began illustrating children's books in his spare time, but soon found the work taking over all his time. He began working with children's author Joan Aiken in 1968; he later won the first of two Kate Greenaway Medals in 1972 for his illustrations in Aiken's "The Kingdom Under the Sea."

Pieńkowski is probably best known for his Meg and Mog books, and his pop-up books, including "Haunted House" (winner of the 1979 Kate Greenaway Medal), "Robot", "Dinner Time", "Good Night" and 17 others.

Pieńkowski has had a life-long interest in stage design. He was commissioned to provide designs for Theatre de Complicite, "Beauty and the Beast" for the Royal Ballet, and "Sleeping Beauty" at Disneyland Paris.

Pieńkowski lives and works in Barnes, London.

External links

* [http://www.janpienkowski.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fccb0e4c-4964-11dd-9a5f-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1/ article on FT.com (5th July, 2008)]