Robin Jacques facts for kids

Robin Jacques (born March 27, 1920 – died March 18, 1995) was a talented illustrator. He created pictures for more than 100 novels and children's books.

He is especially known for his long partnership with author Ruth Manning-Sanders. Robin Jacques illustrated many of her popular collections of fairy tales from around the world. In much of his artwork, he used a special technique called stippling. This involves using many small dots to create images.

Robin Jacques once shared his thoughts on his work: "I really like illustrating children's books that are imaginative and fanciful. These types of stories give me more freedom to be creative with my drawings. That's where I feel most comfortable. Working with Ruth Manning-Sanders has been very rewarding. The twenty-five books we made together contain some of my favorite work."

About Robin Jacques

Robin Jacques was born Robin Jaques. His father, also named Robin Jaques, was a pilot in World War One. His sister, Hattie Jacques, became a famous actress. She added a 'c' to her last name, and Robin decided to do the same.

Becoming an Artist

Robin Jacques taught himself how to draw and paint. He did not go to a formal art school. As a teenager, he started working at an advertising agency. He loved drawing and learned by studying anatomy books. He also found inspiration from items at the Victoria and Albert Museum and objects around him.

Working Life and Teaching

Robin Jacques held important roles in the art world. He was the art editor for Strand magazine. He also worked as the art director for the Central Office of Information.

Later in his career, he began teaching art. He taught at Harrow College of Art starting in 1973. In 1975, he also taught at Canterbury Art College and Wimbledon Art College.

His Famous Illustrations

Robin Jacques was a very busy artist. He illustrated over 100 books between the 1940s and the 1980s. His most famous works are the fairy tale collections by Ruth Manning-Sanders. He illustrated 22 books in her "A Book of..." series. These books were published by Methuen Publishing and E.P. Dutton from 1962 to 1984.

His illustrations are known for their amazing detail. His characters often show strong feelings and expressions. He was also a master of the stippling technique, using tiny dots to create beautiful textures and shading.

Robin Jacques believed that illustration has a clear purpose. He said, "Illustration is more than just great drawing or showing off technical skills. Unlike painting or sculpture, an illustration has a direct job to do... It can't just be a private art experiment. If it becomes that, it might be interesting, but it's no longer an illustration."

Family Life

In 1943, Robin Jacques married Patricia Bamford. Her father, Robert Bamford, helped start the famous car company Aston Martin. Patricia's mother, Matilda Etches, was a fashion designer. Robin and Patricia had one son, named John Paul Jacques.

After Patricia passed away, Robin married Azetta van der Merwe in 1958. After Azetta's death, he married Alexandra Mann. This marriage later ended in divorce.