{{Short description|British children's author, illustrator (born 1972)}} {{Infobox writer | name = Rob Biddulph | image = Rob at desk.jpg | caption = Biddulph in his studio, 2020 | birth_name = <!-- Per WP:BLPPRIVACY, do not use full names unless they have been "widely published by reliable sources". --> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1972|10|12}} | birth_place = London, England | education = Middlesex University | spouse = {{Marriage|Ally Oliver|2006}} | children = 3 | occupation = {{Hlist | Author | illustrator}} | genre = Children's books | image_size = 300px | notable_works = {{Ubl | Draw with Rob | ''Blown Away'' | ''Odd Dog Out'' | The Peanut Jones trilogy }} | website = {{URL|robbiddulph.com}} }}
'''Rob Biddulph''' is a British children's author and illustrator.
== Early life == Biddulph was born on 12 October 1972 in Barnet, London. He attended Dame Alice Owen's School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alumni Spotlight: Rob Biddulph, Author & Illustrator |url=https://www.owenians.com/news/alumni-spotlight/74/74-Rob-Biddulph-Author-Illustrator}}</ref> He graduated with a BA(Hons) degree in Visual Communication and Design from Middlesex University in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://www.robbiddulph.com/about |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Rob Biddulph |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == Before becoming an author and illustrator, he worked as an art director for ''The Observer Magazine'', ''NME'', ''Uncut'', ''SKY Magazine'' and ''Just Seventeen''.<ref name="Creative Review">{{cite interview |interviewer=Rebecca Fulleylove |last1=Biddulph |first1=Rob |title=How I Work: Rob Biddulph |url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/how-i-work-rob-biddulph/ |access-date=14 December 2022 |work=Creative Review |date=24 March 2020}}</ref>
In 2014, he published his first picture book, ''Blown Away'', about an intrepid blue penguin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2014/sep/20/how-to-draw-windy-day-rob-biddulph|title=How to draw... a windy day|first=Rob|last=Biddulph|work=the Guardian |date=September 20, 2014|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> In 2015, he won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for ''Blown Away'', which was the second picture book to win the prize.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |last1=Mcaloon |first1=Jonathan |title=Picture book wins 2015 Waterstones Children's Book Prize |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookprizes/11497464/Picture-book-wins-2015-Waterstones-Childrens-Book-Prize.html |access-date=14 December 2022 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=26 March 2015}}</ref>
Several of his picture books have featured on the BBC television series CBeebies Bedtime Stories. ''Odd Dog Out'' was read by Tom Hardy in 2017, ''Blown Away'' was read by Mark Bonnar in 2017, ''GRRRRR!'' was read by Chris Kamara in 2019, ''Show and Tell'' was read by Rick Astley in 2019, ''An Odd Dog Christmas'' was read by Hardy in 2021, and ''Gigantic'' was read by Cody Rhodes in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |date=2021-12-24 |title=Watch Tom Hardy read 'An Odd Dog Christmas' for 'CBeebies Bedtime Stories' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/watch-tom-hardy-read-an-odd-dog-christmas-for-cbeebies-bedtime-stories-3126169 |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2021, he published his first middle-grade book, ''Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-10 |title=Children's and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/10/childrens-and-teens-roundup-the-best-new-picture-books-and-novels |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
Biddulph was the official World Book Day illustrator between 2019 and 2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=Telling Stories with Pictures |url=https://www.worldbookday.com/online-masterclasses/telling-stories-with-pictures/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=World Book Day |language=en-gb}}</ref> and was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards (the Nibbies) in May 2025.<ref name="thebookseller.com">{{Cite web |title=The British Book Awards Book of the Year winners revealed including Percival Everett, Asako Yuzuki and Alexei Navalny |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/the-british-book-awards-book-of-the-year-winners-revealed-including-percival-everett-asako-yuzuki-and-alexei-navalny#:~:text=Rob%20Biddulph%20was%20named%20Illustrator,his%20previous%20second-format%20outing. |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}</ref>
== Draw with Rob == In March 2020, Biddulph began uploading twice-weekly draw-along videos to help children looking for things to keep them occupied whilst stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The videos received millions of views worldwide,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Breakfast, Free drawing lessons for kids from World Book Day illustrator Rob Biddulph |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0872d0g |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=BBC |date=19 March 2020 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and on 20 May 2020 Biddulph broke the Guinness World Record for the largest ever online art class when 45,611 households joined him in drawing a blue whale via his YouTube channel. In the process, over £50,000 was raised for charity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-08 |title=Children's illustrator Rob Biddulph leads record-breaking art lesson |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2020/6/childrens-illustrator-rob-biddulph-leads-record-breaking-art-lesson-620354 |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Guinness World Records |language=en-gb}}</ref> Biddulph was named as a UK Point of Light by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, who said "As our country observed the toughest restrictions in living memory, you inspired the creative spirit of the nation with millions of families tuning in to your #DrawWithRob series and spending special time together honing their artistic skills."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-23 |title=Draw With Rob |url=https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/draw-with-rob/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Points of Light |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Publications== *''Blown Away'', 2014 *''GRRRRR!'', 2015 *''Odd Dog Out'', 2016 *Sunk!, 2017 *''Kevin'', 2017 *''Dinosaur Juniors: Happy Hatchday'', 2018 *''Dinosaur Juniors: Give Peas a Chance'', 2018 *''Dinosaur Juniors: Wide Awake'', 2019 *''Show and Tell'', 2019 *''Dog Gone, 2020'' *''An Odd Dog Christmas'', 2021 *''The Blue-footed Booby'', 2022 * ''Gigantic'', 2023 *''Charlie McGrew & the Horse That He Drew'', 2024 *''I Follow the Fox'', 2024 *''When I Grow Up I'd Like to Be...'', 2025 *''Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City'', 2021 *''Peanut Jones and the Twelve Portals'', 2022 *''Peanut Jones and the End of the Rainbow'', 2023 *The ''Draw with Rob'' series, 2020– *The ''My First Draw with Rob'' series, 2023–
== Collaborations == *The ''Flat Stanley'' series, 2017-2018, written by Jeff Brown *The ''Radio Boy'' series, 2017-2018, written by Christian O'Connell *''The Adventures of Parsley the Lion'', 2020, written by Michael Bond *''The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates'', 2020, written by Jenny Pearson *The ''Furry Purry Beancat'' series, 2020, written by Philip Ardagh
== Awards and recognitions ==
* 2015: Waterstones Children's Book Prize, winner (''Blown Away'')<ref name="Guardian">{{Cite web |date=2015-03-26 |title=Rob Biddulph wins Waterstones children's book prize 2015 with debut Blown Away |url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/childrens-books-site/2015/mar/26/waterstones-childrens-book-prize-2015-rob-biddulph-sally-green-robin-stevens |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> * 2015: Waterstones Children's Book Prize, Best Illustrated Book, winner (''Blown Away'')<ref name="Guardian" /> * 2015: Kate Greenaway Medal, nominated (''Blown Away'') * 2015: Independent Booksellers Book Award, shortlisted (''Blown Away'') * 2016: Kate Greenaway Medal, nominated (''GRRRRR!'') * 2016: Independent Booksellers Book Award, shortlisted (''GRRRRR!'') * 2017: UKLA Student Shadower's Book Award, winner (''Odd Dog Out'')<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-08 |title=10th UKLA Book Awards – The Winners |url=https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/10th-ukla-book-awards-the-winners/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=ACHUKA Children's Books UK |language=en-US}}</ref> * 2017: BSC Festival of Literature Picture Book Award, winner (''Odd Dog Out'') * 2017: Oscar's Book Prize, shortlisted (''Odd Dog Out'') * 2017: Independent Booksellers Book Award, shortlisted (''Odd Dog Out'') * 2017: Sheffield Children's Book Award, shortlisted (''Odd Dog Out'') * 2018: Kate Greenaway Medal, nominated (''Sunk!'') * 2018: Oscar's Book Prize, shortlisted (''Sunk!'') * 2018: The People's Book Prize, shortlisted (''Sunk!'') * 2018: Kate Greenaway Medal, nominated (''Kevin'') * 2018: BSC Festival of Literature Picture Book Award, shortlisted (''Kevin'') * 2018: Independent Booksellers Book Award, shortlisted (''Kevin'') * 2018: Junior Magazine Design Awards, Gold, winner (''Dinosaur Juniors: Happy Hatchday'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Pre-Schooler Book 2-5 years {{!}} Junior Design Awards 2018 |url=https://www.juniormagazine.co.uk/junior-design-awards/best-pre-schooler-book-2-5-years-junior-design-awards-2018/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Junior Magazine |language=en}}</ref> * 2019: Kate Greenaway Medal, nominated (''Dinosaur Juniors: Give Peas a Chance'') * 2019: BSC Festival of Literature Picture Book Award, shortlisted (''Show and Tell'') * 2020: UK Point of Light, winner<ref>{{Cite web |last=|date=2020-07-23 |title=Draw With Rob |url=https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/draw-with-rob/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Points of Light |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2020: Sainsbury's Children's Book Award, winner (''Draw With Rob'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sainsbury's Children's Book Awards 2020 Winners Announced |url=https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/news/news-2020/Sainsburys-Childrens-Book-Awards-2020-Winners-Announced/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=www.booktrust.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2020: Sheffield Children's Book Award, winner (''Show and Tell'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheffield Children's Book Award {{!}} Sheffield City Council |url=https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries-archives/book-awards |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=www.sheffield.gov.uk}}</ref> * 2021: British Book Awards, shortlisted (''Draw With Rob'') * 2021: BSC Festival of Literature Picture Book Award, shortlisted (''Dog Gone'') * 2022: Yoto Carnegie Illustration Medal, nominated (''The Blue-footed Booby'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Yoto Carnegies |url=https://yotocarnegies.co.uk/illustration-nominated-titles-2023/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2023: Fantastic Book Award, Lancashire School Library Service, winner (''Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City'')<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-12 |title=Children's top authors and illustrators crowned at awards celebration |url=https://news.lancashire.gov.uk/news/childrens-top-authors-and-illustrators-crowned-at-awards-celebration |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Lancashire County Council News |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2023: FCBG Children's Book Award, nominated (''The Blue-Footed Booby'') * 2023: BSC Festival of Literature Picture Book Award, shortlisted (''The Blue-Footed Booby'') * 2023: Cover of the Year, The Week Junior Book Awards, winner (''Peanut Jones and the Twelve Portals'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/biddulph-patel-and-said-among-winners-of-the-inaugural-week-junior-book-awards |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=The Bookseller |language=en-AG}}</ref> * 2024: Oscar's Book Prize, shortlisted (''Gigantic'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nadia Shireen and Rob Biddulph shortlisted for £10k Oscar's Book Prize |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/nadia-shireen-and-rob-biddulph-shortlisted-for-10k-oscars-book-prize |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}</ref> * 2024: Sheffield Children's Book Award, winner, picture book category (''Gigantic'') * 2024: FCBG Children's Book Award, winner (''Gigantic'') * 2024: Laugh-Out-Loud Award, shortlisted (''The Blue-Footed Booby'') * 2024: Picture Book of the Year, The Week Junior Book Awards, highly commended (''Gigantic'') * 2025: Illustrator of the Year, The British Book Awards, winner<ref name="thebookseller.com"/> * 2025: Brilliant Book Award, Lancashire School Library Service, winner (''Gigantic'')
==Personal life== Biddulph is married with three daughters, and lives in London.<ref name="Love Reading">{{cite web |title=Rob Biddulph - Author |url=https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/author/3891/Rob-Biddulph.html |website=Love Reading |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="Mudpie Fridays">{{cite web |title=Review: Show and Tell by Rob Biddulph |url=https://mudpiefridays.com/review-show-and-tell-by-rob-biddulph/ |website=Mudpie Fridays |date=10 September 2019 |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref> He has a cocker spaniel called Ringo. He is a fan of Arsenal FC.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.robbiddulph.com}} * [http://www.robbiddulph.com/draw-with-rob Draw With Rob]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biddulph, Rob}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century British novelists Category:British children's writers Category:1972 births