Rob Biddulph

Last updated
Rob Biddulph
Rob at desk.jpg
Biddulph in his studio, 2020
Born (1972-10-12) 12 October 1972 (age 52)
London, England
Occupation
  • Author
  • illustrator
Education Middlesex University
GenreChildren's books
Notable works
  • Draw with Rob
  • Blown Away
  • Odd Dog Out
  • The Peanut Jones trilogy
Spouse
Ally Oliver
(m. 2006)
Children3
Website
robbiddulph.com

Rob Biddulph is a British children's author and illustrator.

Contents

Early life

Biddulph was born on 12 October 1972 in Barnet, London. He attended Dame Alice Owen's School. He graduated with a BA(Hons) degree in Visual Communication and Design from Middlesex University in 1994. [1]

Career

Before becoming an author and illustrator, he worked as an art director for The Observer Magazine , NME , Uncut , SKY Magazine and Just Seventeen . [2]

In 2014, he published his first picture book, Blown Away, about an intrepid blue penguin. [3] In 2015, he won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Blown Away, which was the second picture book to win the prize. [4]

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. [5]

In 2021, he published his first middle-grade book, Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City. [6]

Biddulph was the official World Book Day illustrator between 2019 and 2021 [7] and was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards (the Nibbies) in May 2025. [8]

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, [9] 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. [10] 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." [11]

Publications

Collaborations

Awards and recognitions

Personal life

Biddulph is married with three daughters, and lives in London. [23] [24] He has a cocker spaniel called Ringo. He is a fan of Arsenal FC.

References

  1. "About". Rob Biddulph. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  2. Biddulph, Rob (24 March 2020). "How I Work: Rob Biddulph". Creative Review (Interview). Interviewed by Rebecca Fulleylove. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. Biddulph, Rob (September 20, 2014). "How to draw... a windy day". the Guardian via www.theguardian.com.
  4. Mcaloon, Jonathan (26 March 2015). "Picture book wins 2015 Waterstones Children's Book Prize". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  5. Lavin, Will (2021-12-24). "Watch Tom Hardy read 'An Odd Dog Christmas' for 'CBeebies Bedtime Stories'". NME. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  6. "Children's and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels". the Guardian. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  7. "Telling Stories with Pictures". World Book Day. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  8. "The British Book Awards Book of the Year winners revealed including Percival Everett, Asako Yuzuki and Alexei Navalny". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  9. "BBC One - Breakfast, Free drawing lessons for kids from World Book Day illustrator Rob Biddulph". BBC. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  10. "Children's illustrator Rob Biddulph leads record-breaking art lesson". Guinness World Records. 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  11. "Draw With Rob". Points of Light. 2020-07-23. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  12. 1 2 "Rob Biddulph wins Waterstones children's book prize 2015 with debut Blown Away". the Guardian. 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  13. "10th UKLA Book Awards – The Winners". ACHUKA Children's Books UK. 2018-07-08. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  14. "Best Pre-Schooler Book 2-5 years | Junior Design Awards 2018". Junior Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  15. "Draw With Rob". Points of Light. 2020-07-23. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  16. "Sainsbury's Children's Book Awards 2020 Winners Announced". www.booktrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  17. "Sheffield Children's Book Award | Sheffield City Council". www.sheffield.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  18. "The Yoto Carnegies" . Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  19. "Children's top authors and illustrators crowned at awards celebration". Lancashire County Council News. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  20. "Home". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  21. "Nadia Shireen and Rob Biddulph shortlisted for £10k Oscar's Book Prize". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  22. "The British Book Awards Book of the Year winners revealed including Percival Everett, Asako Yuzuki and Alexei Navalny". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  23. "Rob Biddulph - Author". Love Reading. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  24. "Review: Show and Tell by Rob Biddulph". Mudpie Fridays. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2022.