Korky Paul
Encyclopedia
Korky Paul is an award-winning illustrator of books for children. He was born and grew up in Harare
, Zimbabwe
in 1951. He now lives and works in Oxford
, England. His work, characteristically executed with bright watercolour paint and pen and ink, is recognisable by an anarchic yet detailed style and for its "wild characterisation".
.
He studied Fine Art at the Durban School of Art and then worked at an advertising agency in Cape Town
. In 1976 he travelled to Greece where he met James Watt, who was working for a Greek publisher, and who commissioned Korky to illustrate a series of educational books teaching Greek children to speak the 'Queen's English'. And so he began his career as a children's book illustrator.
He then spent some time working in an advertising agency in London and Los Angeles, and then studied film animation under Jules Engel
at California Institute of the Arts
in Valencia, California. Korky's first children's book was a pop-up called The Crocodile and the Dumper Truck published in 1980, with paper engineering by Ray Marshall.
In 1986 Korky Paul met the editor, Ron Heapy, at Oxford University Press
, who looked at his work and commissioned him to do a several pictures for a short book about a witch written by Valerie Thomas for OUP’s Reading Tree programme. Paul liked the story enough to turn it into a complete picture book. Although this was not what Heapy had asked for, he nevertheless presented it to the OUP delegates, and the book, Winnie the Witch
, was published, went on to win the Children's Book Award in 1987 and has since been published in over 10 languages. Paul's illustrations for this are full of visual jokes and witty detail, and he has gone on to illustrate nine other Winnie the Witch titles which have sold in their millions.
Three of Paul's picture books have been adapted for CD-ROM; Dragon Poems, Winnie the Witch, and The Fish Who Could Wish which won the European Multi-Media Award (EMMA) in 1995.
His anarchic yet detailed work, executed with bright watercolour paint and pen and ink, is distinguished by its "wild characterisation". It has been compared to Tom and Jerry
cartoons, and also to the artists Ronald Searle
and Ralph Steadman
.
He has original artwork on display at The Mazza Collection Galleria, University of Findlay
, Findlay, Ohio, USA. He is married to the artist Susan Moxley and they have two children, Zoe and Oska. They live in Oxford
, Britain.
Describing the technical details of his work he says: "I use an Apple Mac, Schminke watercolours, Caran d’Ache pencil crayons (with electric sharpener), Saunders Waterford paper 190gm3, black kandahar and coloured inks with a dip pen, toothbrush, porcupine quills, and my trusty left hand."
Paul has also illustrated books for The Prison Phoenix Trust
, sent to prisoners free of charge:
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
in 1951. He now lives and works in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England. His work, characteristically executed with bright watercolour paint and pen and ink, is recognisable by an anarchic yet detailed style and for its "wild characterisation".
Background
Korky Paul was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1951 into a family of seven children and had what he describes as "a wild and privileged childhood" in the African BushveldBushveld
The Bushveld is a sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and a small part of the North West Province of South Africa, the Central and North-East Districts of Botswana and the Matabeleland South and part of th Matabeleland North provinces of...
.
He studied Fine Art at the Durban School of Art and then worked at an advertising agency in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. In 1976 he travelled to Greece where he met James Watt, who was working for a Greek publisher, and who commissioned Korky to illustrate a series of educational books teaching Greek children to speak the 'Queen's English'. And so he began his career as a children's book illustrator.
He then spent some time working in an advertising agency in London and Los Angeles, and then studied film animation under Jules Engel
Jules Engel
Jules Engel was a Jewish-Hungarian American filmmaker, painter, sculptor, graphic artist, set designer, animator, film director, and teacher...
at California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
in Valencia, California. Korky's first children's book was a pop-up called The Crocodile and the Dumper Truck published in 1980, with paper engineering by Ray Marshall.
In 1986 Korky Paul met the editor, Ron Heapy, at Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, who looked at his work and commissioned him to do a several pictures for a short book about a witch written by Valerie Thomas for OUP’s Reading Tree programme. Paul liked the story enough to turn it into a complete picture book. Although this was not what Heapy had asked for, he nevertheless presented it to the OUP delegates, and the book, Winnie the Witch
Winnie the Witch
Winnie The Witch is a series of eleven picture books, written by Valerie Thomas and illustrated by Korky Paul. According to Oxford University Press more than two million books have been sold of this series....
, was published, went on to win the Children's Book Award in 1987 and has since been published in over 10 languages. Paul's illustrations for this are full of visual jokes and witty detail, and he has gone on to illustrate nine other Winnie the Witch titles which have sold in their millions.
Three of Paul's picture books have been adapted for CD-ROM; Dragon Poems, Winnie the Witch, and The Fish Who Could Wish which won the European Multi-Media Award (EMMA) in 1995.
His anarchic yet detailed work, executed with bright watercolour paint and pen and ink, is distinguished by its "wild characterisation". It has been compared to Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
cartoons, and also to the artists Ronald Searle
Ronald Searle
Ronald William Fordham Searle, CBE, RDI, is a British artist and cartoonist, best known as the creator of St Trinian's School. He is also the co-author of the Molesworth series....
and Ralph Steadman
Ralph Steadman
Ralph Steadman is a British cartoonist and caricaturist who is perhaps best known for his work with American author Hunter S. Thompson.-Personal life:Steadman was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, and brought up in Towyn, North Wales...
.
He has original artwork on display at The Mazza Collection Galleria, University of Findlay
University of Findlay
The University of Findlay is a private university located in the city of Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the city of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay offers more...
, Findlay, Ohio, USA. He is married to the artist Susan Moxley and they have two children, Zoe and Oska. They live in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Britain.
Describing the technical details of his work he says: "I use an Apple Mac, Schminke watercolours, Caran d’Ache pencil crayons (with electric sharpener), Saunders Waterford paper 190gm3, black kandahar and coloured inks with a dip pen, toothbrush, porcupine quills, and my trusty left hand."
Partial Bibliography
- The Small Book (Methuen) 1985
- The Big Book (Methuen) 1985
- The Fat Book (Methuen) 1985
- The Thin Book (Methuen) 1985
- Billy Bumps Builds a Palace (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
) 1995
Illustrated
- Ray Marshall, Sara Sharpe, The Crocodile and the Dumper Truck: A Reptilian Guide to London (Atheneum) 1982
- Ray Marshall, Cats Up: Purring Pop-Ups (Little Simon) 1982
- Ray Marshall, Doors (Dutton) 1982
- Ray Marshall, Hey Diddle Diddle (Little Simon) 1983
- Ray Marshall, Humpty Dumpty (Little Simon) 1983
- Ray Marshall, Jack and Jill (Little Simon) 1983
- Ray Marshall, Sing a Song of Sixpence (Little Simon) 1983
- John Bush, This Is a Book about Baboons (Kestrel) 1983
- John Bush, This Is a Book about Giraffes (Kestrel) 1983
- John Bush, This Is a Book about Hippos (Kestrel) 1983
- Ray Marshall, Pop-Up Numbers (Dutton) 1984
- Ray Marshall, Pop-Up Addition (Kestrel) 1984
- Ray Marshall, Pop-Up Subtraction (Kestrel) 1984
- Ray Marshall, Pop-Up Multiplication (Kestrel) 1984
- Ray Marshall, Pop-Up Division (Kestrel) 1984
- Keren Kristal, The Brainbox, (Methuen) 1986
- Valerie Thomas, Winnie the WitchWinnie the WitchWinnie The Witch is a series of eleven picture books, written by Valerie Thomas and illustrated by Korky Paul. According to Oxford University Press more than two million books have been sold of this series....
(Kane/Miller) 1987, winner of the Children's Book AwardRed House Children's Book AwardThe Red House Children's Book Award is a series of literary prizes for works of children's literature published during the previous year. The prize was known as the Children's Book Award from its inauguration in 1981... - Peter Carter, Captain Teachum's Buried Treasure (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
) 1989, shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway MedalKate Greenaway MedalThe Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals... - Tessa Dahl, Gwenda and the Animals (Hamish HamiltonHamish HamiltonHamish Hamilton Limited was a British book publishing house, founded in 1931 eponymously by the half-Scot half-American Jamie Hamilton . Confusingly, Jamie Hamilton was often referred to as Hamish Hamilton...
) 1989 - Tandi Jackson, The Wonderhair Restorer (Heinemann) 1990
- John Foster, Never Say Boo to a Ghost (Oxford University Press) 1990
- Tessa Dahl, School Can Wait (Hamish Hamilton) 1990
- Stephen Wyllie, Dinner with Fox (Dial) 1990
- John Bush, The Fish Who Could Wish, (Kane/Miller) 1991
- The Pop-Up Book of Ghost Tales (HarcourtHarcourt (publisher)Harcourt was a United States publishing firm with a long history of publishing fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. The company was based in San Diego, California, with an Editorial / Sales / Marketing / Rights offices in New York City and Orlando, Florida.In 2007, the U.S...
) 1991 - John Foster, Dragon Poems (Oxford University Press) 1991
- Robin Tzannes, Professor Puffendorf's Secret Potions, (Oxford University Press) 1992
- Jonathan Long, The Dog That Dug, (Bodley Head) 1992, shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway MedalKate Greenaway MedalThe Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
- Shen Roddie, Mrs. Wolf (Tango) 1992
- Robin Tzannes, The Great Robbery (Tango) 1993
- Robin Tzannes, Sanji and the Baker, (Oxford University Press) 1993
- John Foster, compiler, Dinosaur Poems (Oxford University Press) 1993
- Robin Tzannes, Mookie Goes Fishing (Oxford University Press) 1994
- Jonathan Long, The Cat That Scratched (Bodley Head) 1994
- Jeanne Willis, The Rascally Cake, (Andersen PressAndersen PressAndersen Press is a British book publishing company. It was founded in 1976 by Klaus Flugge, and was named after Hans Christian Andersen. Random House has a holding in the company and has a strong association with Andersen....
) (London, England), 1994, winner of the Children's Book AwardRed House Children's Book AwardThe Red House Children's Book Award is a series of literary prizes for works of children's literature published during the previous year. The prize was known as the Children's Book Award from its inauguration in 1981... - Peter Tabern, Pirates, (Andersen Press) 1994
- Peter Tabern, Blood and Thunder (Andersen Press) 1994
- Peter Harris, Have You Seen Max? (Aladdin) 1994
- Michel Piquemal, The Monster Book of Horrible Horrors, translated by Peter Haswell, (Bodley Head) 1995
- John Foster, compiler, Monster Poems (Oxford University Press) 1995
- Valerie Thomas, Winnie in Winter (Oxford University Press) 1996, shortlisted for the Children's Book AwardRed House Children's Book AwardThe Red House Children's Book Award is a series of literary prizes for works of children's literature published during the previous year. The prize was known as the Children's Book Award from its inauguration in 1981...
- Jonathan Long, The Duck That Had No Luck (Bodley Head) 1996, shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway MedalKate Greenaway MedalThe Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
- Julianna Bethlen, Dracula Junior and the Fake Fangs, paper engineering by Richard Ferguson (Dial) 1996
- John Foster, compiler, Magic Poems (Oxford University Press) 1997
- Vivian French, reteller, Aesop's Funky Fables (Hamish Hamilton) 1997
- John Foster, compiler, Dragons, Dinosaurs, and Monster Poems (Oxford University Press) 1998
- John AgardJohn AgardJohn Agard is an Afro-Guyanese playwright, poet and children's writer, now living in the United Kingdom.-Background:...
, Brer Rabbit: The Great Tug-o-War, (Barron's EducationalBarron's Educational SeriesBarron's Educational Series, Inc. is an American test preparation company, founded in 1941 as a publisher of materials to help students to prepare for college entrance examinations, and that offers online college entrance exam preparation classes...
) 1998 - Teresa Lynch, Call Me Sam, (Oxford University Press) 1998.
- W. J. Corbett, The Battle of Chinnbrook Wood, (Hodder) 1998
- Jonathan Long, The Wonkey Donkey (Bodley Head) 1999
- Michael RosenMichael RosenMichael Wayne Rosen is a broadcaster, children's novelist and poet and the author of 140 books. He was appointed as the fifth Children's Laureate in June 2007, succeeding Jacqueline Wilson, and held this honour until 2009....
, Lunch Boxes Don't Fly, (Puffin BooksPuffin BooksPuffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...
) 1999 - Valerie Thomas, Winnie Flies Again (Oxford University Press) 1999
- John Foster, compiler, Pet Poems (Oxford University Press) 2000
- Vivian French, reteller, Funky Tales (Hamish Hamilton) 2000
- Michael Rosen, Uncle Billy Being Silly (Puffin Books) 2001
- John Foster, compiler, Fantastic Football Poems (Oxford University) 2001
- Michael Rosen, No Breathing in Class (Puffin Books) 2002
- Paul Rogers, Tiny (Bodley Head) 2002
- Mary Arrigan, Pa Jinglebob: The Fastest Knitter in the West (Egmont) 2002
- Valerie Thomas, Winnie's Magic Wand (Oxford University Press) 2002
- Jon Blake, The Deadly Secret of Dorothy W. (Hodder) 2003
- Valerie Thomas, Winnie's New Computer (Oxford University Press) 2003
Paul has also illustrated books for The Prison Phoenix Trust
The Prison Phoenix Trust
The Prison Phoenix Trust is a charity registered in England that offers help to prisoners through the disciplines of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath. The PPT encourages prisoners – and prison staff – to take up a daily practice, and supports them with classes, free books...
, sent to prisoners free of charge:
- Freeing the Spirit through Meditation and Yoga by Sandy Chubb and Sister Elaine MacInnes, 2005
- Yoga Without Words by Sandy Chubb and Jo Child, 2008
External links
- Korky Paul website
- Winnie the Witch website
- Oxford Children's Book Group - a local charity for whom he has illustrated