Brian Wildsmith, 1930-2016, was a British painter, author and illustrator of children's picture books. Brian Wildsmith won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art and after study spent his National Service teaching music at the Royal Military School of Music. After his time in the Army, he became an art master, but soon gave up teaching to pursue his life-long ambition of becoming a painter. He believed passionately in the power of pictures to convey feelings and nourish children's imaginations and has a world-wide reputation as one of the greatest children's illustrators. Brian Wildsmith, 1930-2016, was a British painter, author and illustrator of children's picture books. Brian Wildsmith won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art and after study spent his National Service teaching music at the Royal Military School of Music. After his time in the Army, he became an art master, but soon gave up teaching to pursue his life-long ambition of becoming a painter. He believed passionately in the power of pictures to convey feelings and nourish children's imaginations and has a world-wide reputation as one of the greatest children's illustrators.