Simon Bartram
In 1990 Simon Bartram graduated from Birmingham Polytechnic with a First Class degree in Illustration. He now lives in Gateshead with his wife and son.
Simon loves writing and illustrating children’s books and is well-known for his wonderfully individual characters. After graduating he attended as many extra life drawing classes as possible, explaining his excellent observational skills and draftsmanship.
Simon’s rich and detailed painting style is equally as unique. He was influenced by a variety of artists ranging from the 15th Century Dutch painter, Jan van Eyck, to the recent figurative painters Stanley Spencer, Peter Blake and Peter Howson.
Simon’s work was first singled out in 1999 at the Mother Goose Awards; he achieved second prize for his illustrations in Jane Fior’s adaptation of Pinocchio (Dorling Kindersley). It was also at this awards ceremony that he met the team from Templar, leading to the popular and lovable tales of Bob.
In 2003 he was short listed for the Kate Greenaway Award and in 2004 won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award for Man on The Moon (a Day in the life of Bob). The recently published sequel, Bob’s Best Ever Friend, has even more mischievous aliens, including Barry, the extra-terrestrial dog! Barry also stars alongside Bob in a new young fiction series, Bob and Barry’s Lunar Adventure.
Simon has also worked with Templar on Watch out for Sprouts! This is a unique collection of poems, pictures, doodles and ‘serious brain thinking’ that offers the reader/viewer an insight into his limitless imagination, uncovering ideas and illustrations that would normally be hidden away in his sketchbooks.
Martin Salisbury describes Simon as “one of the most outstanding artist/authors to emerge on the children’s book scene in recent years.”
Books for Keeps No.158 May 2006 p.10