Pat Hutchins (1942-2017) was a children’s author and illustrator – I’d wager that almost every British child from the 70s onwards has had at least one of her books read to them.
Hutchins was originally from near Richmond in North Yorkshire. In 1958, she gained a scholarship to attend Darlington School of Art. She then went on to study for a National Diploma in Illustration at Leeds College of Art. On leaving college, she moved down to London in search of work, becoming an assistant art director at an advertising agency in 1963.
It was here that she met her husband and with whom she emigrated to New York in 1966 when he was given a work posting.
While still in the USA, her first book was published; Rosie’s Walk in 1968. It has since been translated into 10 languages and is still in print today.
She said that her favourite book that she wrote was Titch. It was based on the younger of her two sons, Morgan.
She won the 1974 Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year’s best children’s book illustration by a British subject. The work was The Wind Blew, a picture book accompanied by words in verse.
In all, she has authored and illustrated around 50 children’s titles. She collaborated with her husband on 5 older children’s books including The Mona Lisa Mystery, where she composed the words and he created the accompanying illustrations.
In 1995 and 1996, she began presenting the famous British children’s television series, Rosie and Jim. She did the programme for 2 series.
Have a watch of Pat talking about her books below:
Additional image credits:
Penguin | Simon and Schuster | The Times
