Martin Handford author page

Martin Handford biography

Martin Handford is a British illustrator best known for creating the Where’s Wally? series of children’s books. He studied at the University for the Creative Arts in Maidstone, where he developed his distinctive style of detailed crowd scenes. After graduating, Handford worked as a freelance illustrator, producing crowd scenes for various clients.

Handford conceived the idea for Where’s Wally? in 1986, inspired by his interest in drawing busy scenes filled with characters. The first book in the series, Where’s Wally?, was published by Walker Books in 1987. The series features the character Wally, who is hidden within intricately illustrated scenes, challenging readers to find him among numerous figures and activities.

The Where’s Wally? books have become widely recognised for their detailed artwork and the interactive nature of the search-and-find concept. Handford continued to create additional titles in the series, each featuring new settings and increasingly complex illustrations.

In 1988, Where’s Wally? was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal, an award recognising distinguished illustration in children’s books in the United Kingdom.