| Jan Pieńkowski | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jan Michel Pieńkowski August 8, 1936 Warsaw, Poland |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Genres | Children's literature |
| Notable work(s) | Meg and Mog Pop-up books |
| Spouse(s) | David Walser (2005-present) |
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www.janpienkowski.com |
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Jan Michel Pieńkowski (born 8 August 1936 in Warsaw, Poland) is a Polish-born British illustrator and author of children's books, and has also designed for the theatre.
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Pieńkowski illustrated his first book at the age of eight, as a present for his father.
During World War II, Pieńkowski's family moved about Europe, finally settling in Herefordshire in Britain in 1946. He attended the Cardinal Vaughan School in London, and later read English and Classics at King's College, Cambridge.
After leaving university Pieńkowski founded the Gallery Five greeting cards company. He began illustrating children's books in his spare time, but soon found the work taking over all his time.
In 1968 he began working with children's author Joan Aiken; he later won the first of two Kate Greenaway Medals in 1972 for his illustrations in Aiken's The Kingdom Under the Sea.[1]
Pieńkowski is probably best known for his Meg and Mog books with writer Helen Nicoll, and for his pop-up books, including Haunted House (winner of the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal),[1] Robot, Dinner Time, Good Night and 17 others.
Pieńkowski has had a life-long interest in stage design. He was commissioned to provide designs for Theatre de Complicite, Beauty and the Beast for the Royal Ballet, and Sleeping Beauty at Disneyland Paris.
In December 2008 he was a guest on Private Passions, a biographic music discussion programme on BBC Radio 3.[2]
On October 18, 2009 he was a guest on BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs. During the programme Pieńkowski discussed his childhood spent roaming Europe, his dead infant sister, his bipolarity and his collection of discarded garments (which he wears himself or gives away to charity shops).
He also talked about his 40-year relationship with his collaborator and civil partner, David Walser, whom he met in a pub on the Kings Road in West London. They contracted their partnership in Richmond on the first day this was possible in 2005.[3]
Pieńkowski lives and works in Barnes, London.