Victor Ambrus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Victor Ambrus FRSA
Victor Ambrus at work on a Time Team shoot
Born	László Győző Ambrus (1935-08-19)19 August 1935 Budapest, Hungary
Died	10 February 2021(2021-02-10) (aged 85)
Nationality	British
Known for	Illustration
Awards	Kate Greenaway Medal 1965 1975 Daler Rowney Prize 1993 World Wildlife Fund Prize, Society of Wildlife Artists 1993 Royal Academy of Arts, Arts Club Drawing Prize 1996

Victor Ambrus (born László Győző Ambrus, August 19, 1935 – February 10, 2021) was a talented British illustrator. He was born in Hungary. He was famous for drawing pictures for books about history, folk tales, and animals.

Many people also knew him from the TV show Time Team on Channel 4. On this show, he would draw what ancient places might have looked like in the past. Victor Ambrus was a member of important art groups, like the Royal College of Art and the Royal Society of Arts.

Early Life and Art Studies

Recreating the Past (2001) by Victor Ambrus and Mick Aston

Victor Ambrus was born in Budapest, Hungary, on August 19, 1935. He spent his childhood holidays in the countryside. There, he learned to draw horses, which he loved. As he grew up, he admired famous illustrators like E. H. Shepard. He also loved the large historical paintings he saw in art galleries.

He went to St Imre Cistercian College in Budapest from 1945 to 1953. After that, he studied at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts for three years. He learned a lot about drawing, anatomy, and print-making. His studies were stopped by the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. This was a fight against the government that was supported by the Soviet Union. During this time, the building where he and his friends were staying was attacked.

In December 1956, Victor and many other students left Hungary. They went to Austria first, then to Britain. He hoped to continue his art studies there. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of famous British illustrators. Even though he didn't speak English, he went to Farnham Art School. They accepted him, and he worked hard on his drawing. He had already focused on engraving and lithography. These skills were very helpful for line illustration.

After a short time, his teachers saw how talented he was. They suggested he go to the Royal College of Art in London. Victor won a special scholarship to study printmaking and illustration there for three years, from 1957 to 1960.

Art Career and Achievements

Victor Ambrus had one book published in Hungary in 1955. But his career as a book illustrator really started in Britain. This was during his last year at the Royal College of Art. A publisher named Blackie asked him to illustrate a book called White Horses And Black Bulls. He also showed his work to Mabel George at the Oxford University Press.

After college, he first worked for an advertising company. But as he got more illustration jobs, he started teaching art part-time. He taught at art colleges like Farnham and Guildford from 1963 to 1985. He worked for Oxford University Press for a long time. He started by drawing pictures for novels. He often illustrated books by authors like Hester Burton and K. M. Peyton. He was very good at drawing horses, which was perfect for their stories. He illustrated almost 300 books! He also drew pictures for many fairy tale collections.

Victor Ambrus became well-known for his work on the TV show Time Team. The show's creators saw his historical drawings and asked him to join. He helped viewers imagine what ancient sites looked like. He also designed six sets of historical stamps for the Jersey Post Office. He designed one set for the Royal Mail too.

His art was shown in a special exhibition in Japan in 1998. It was called 'The World of English Picture Books'. Later, in 2016, a big show of his work was held at the Museum of Somerset in England. It was called 'The Art of Victor Ambrus'.

Recognitions and Memberships

Victor Ambrus was recognized by many important art societies:

• He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter Etchers in 1973.
• He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1977.
• He became a member of The Pastel Society in 1993.
• He was the Vice President of The Pastel Society from 1995 to 1998.
• He was an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Graphic Fine Art from 2010 to 2021.
• In 2019, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Personal Life

In 1958, Victor Ambrus married Glenys R. Chapman. She was also an art student at the Royal College. Glenys also became a successful illustrator of children's books.

Victor Ambrus passed away on February 10, 2021, at the age of 85.

Awards and Honors

Victor Ambrus won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal twice. This award is given for the best children's book illustration in Britain.

• In 1965, he won for his book The Three Poor Tailors.
• In 1975, he won again for Mishka and Horses in Battle.

All three of these books were written and illustrated by him. He was also a runner-up for the medal three other times.

Other awards he received include:

• 1993: Daler Rowney Prize
• 1993: World Wildlife Fund Prize, Society of Wildlife Artists
• 1996: Royal Academy of Arts, Arts Club Drawing Prize

Works by Victor Ambrus

Books Written and Illustrated by Victor Ambrus

Books Illustrated by Victor Ambrus

Books Illustrated by Glenys and Victor Ambrus

Books Illustrated by Victor Ambrus for Other Authors

Other Books Illustrated by Victor Ambrus