Illustrator Graham Percy died 4 January 2008 in his adopted home of England. Born 7 June 1938 in Aukland, New Zealand, he illustrated more than 100 children’s books, but also did work of a more adult nature.
London’s Independent called him “a cerebral illustrator—that is to say he worked pictures out, did not expect them to flow from the hand. His craftsmanship… mostly done with coloured pencils, was perfect.”
The paper goes on to say “Graham Percy had the same predilection for neat, even lines, well worked out architectural detail and chubby people. In many ways he was happiest with animals: the illustrations for his Favourite Animal Fables series demonstrate his grasp of the expressive potential of their bodies. Elephants in particular suited the three-dimensional solidity he gave his characters. People, vehicles, chairs, houses and tables all give the feeling that they have been taken from a toy box and skilfully arranged. It made him a natural choice when old stories needed new pictures. Faber and Faber turned to him when they reissued Alison Uttley’s Sam Pig stories in colour in 1988 and 1989 and in 1991 he did a Wind in the Willows for Pavilion Books.”
He did more than just children’s books, however. His 1994 volume, Arthouse, is a picture book for adults, as is last year’s Imagined Histories.
Percy also worked in film, designing the Hugarian film Hugo the Hippo in the early 1970s, and the 1983 television adaptation of The Emperor’s Nightingale.
Percy was married twice, and had two children.