Charles Fuge (Charlie to his friends) was brought up in Bath where a fanatical interest in wildlife translated into the drawing of animals. Once at Camberwell School of Art, he was tutored by woodcutter John Lawrence. He won the Macmillan Prize in 1988 for Bush Vark's First Day Out and the Mother Goose Award the following year. And a career in children's book illustration began. He has since illustrated many more picture books including Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball which was runner-up for the Kate Greenaway Medal 2001. And written and illustrated many more.