Chris Riddell Quotes

Powerful Chris Riddell for Daily Growth

About Chris Riddell

Chris Riddell is a renowned British author, illustrator, and former Children's Laureate (2015-2017), celebrated for his vividly imaginative and intricately detailed works. Born on October 9, 1962, in London, England, Riddell grew up in a family that valued books and art, which greatly influenced his future career path. Riddell studied at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford before starting his professional journey as an illustrator. His early works include illustrations for popular authors such as Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and J.K. Rowling. One of Riddell's most recognized collaborations is with Gaiman, where he illustrated the bestselling "Stardust" (1998) and "Good Omens" (1990). In 2001, Riddell ventured into children's literature with his own creations, starting with "Gunnar's Daughter." This marked the beginning of his successful series, "The Ottoline Chronicles," featuring a young owl named Ottoline Brown and her friends. The series showcases Riddell's unique blend of whimsy, humor, and emotional depth. Riddell's work has earned him numerous accolades, including the World Fantasy Award for his illustration work and the Kate Greenaway Medal twice - first in 2001 for "Ottoline's Book of Mostly Scribbles" and again in 2016 for "The Sleeper and the Spindle." Riddell was appointed as the UK's Children's Laureate in 2015, a role that allowed him to champion the importance of children's literature and creativity. Throughout his career, Chris Riddell has proven himself to be an indispensable voice in contemporary literature, captivating readers with his enchanting narratives and breathtaking illustrations.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Draw the adventures you wish to see in the world."

This quote encourages individuals to take an active role in creating their own realities, particularly within the creative realm. It suggests that if one desires to witness certain adventures or stories in the world, they should use their artistic skills to visualize and bring those adventures into existence through drawing. This inspires self-expression, imagination, and the power of art as a means of storytelling and shaping our collective narrative.


"Imagination is the engine that drives the train of creation."

This quote underscores the essential role of imagination in the creative process. Imagination, much like an engine, propels us forward to generate new ideas, art, inventions, or solutions. It's the spark that ignites the flame of creation, driving us towards innovation and progress. Without imagination, there would be no fresh perspectives, no groundbreaking discoveries, no beautiful works of art, and no advancements in our world. So, nurture your imagination, for it is the engine that fuels human creativity.


"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

This quote by Chris Riddell emphasizes that individuals have the power to shape their own future. It suggests that instead of passively waiting for life's events, one should actively engage in creating a desired future through proactive decision-making, goal setting, and persistent action. Essentially, it encourages people to take charge of their lives and make deliberate choices towards achieving their dreams.


"In every story, there are heroes and villains, but every hero was once a villain's pawn."

This quote suggests that the characters we perceive as heroes in stories often start off as the pawns of villains. It implies that everyone has the potential to become a hero or a villain, depending on their choices and experiences over time. It's a reminder that behind every hero stands a backstory, where they were influenced by external forces, and it encourages empathy for complex characters who may have once been in the wrong hands of power.


"Art is not just about looking, it's about seeing."

This quote by Chris Riddell emphasizes the difference between passive observation (looking) and active perception and interpretation (seeing). Art encourages us to move beyond mere visual experience and delve deeper into understanding and appreciating the emotional, intellectual, or symbolic content that lies within a piece of art. In essence, it's about engaging with a work of art in a thoughtful and insightful manner, rather than just casually glancing at it.


I want to bring drawing back to the basics, make it about the pleasure that it can afford and remove the notion that it's some kind of precious or difficult activity. It's another way of telling a story.

- Chris Riddell

Basics, Some, Telling, Another Way

In the digital future, texts will be annotated visually, animated and illustrated like never before. The austere 'prayer book' paper that permitted the space for Shepard's illustrations to Pepys' diaries is now being recreated in the digital era.

- Chris Riddell

Book, Before, Illustrations, Animated

Lose your inhibitions about drawing and just do it.

- Chris Riddell

Lose, Drawing, About, Just Do It

I'm interested in illustration in all its forms. Not only in books for children but in posters, prints and performance as a way of drawing people into books and stories.

- Chris Riddell

People, Stories, Posters, Illustration

As the Kindle's dread grip on digital publishing is challenged by tablet computers and Android smartphones, with their bright screens and high resolution, the need for illustration is growing.

- Chris Riddell

Digital, Need, Grip, Illustration

I want to put the joy of creativity, of drawing every day, of having a go and being surprised at what one can achieve with just a pencil and an idea at the heart of my term as laureate. I want to make sure people have fun whilst addressing fundamental issues I care about passionately.

- Chris Riddell

Achieve, Idea, Addressing, Whilst

I think stories can grow out of the visual. It can be an engine for literacy.

- Chris Riddell

Think, Literacy, I Think, Engine

Anyone can look through my sketchbooks as long as they don't have a background in psychiatric medicine.

- Chris Riddell

Through, Background, Anyone, Psychiatric

I don't feel uncomfortable in forbidding institutions, and work with, say, prisons or psychiatric institutions could be one of the things that evolve out of the Laureateship.

- Chris Riddell

Work, One Of The Things, Psychiatric

Roald Dahl worked with other illustrators, but it was only when he teamed up with Quentin Blake that the chemistry began to fizz. Quentin Blake is Britain's greatest living illustrator and has that special talent all the great illustrators have, of unobtrusive brilliance.

- Chris Riddell

Other, Britain, Worked, Blake

The writing process isn't something I'm in love with. I'm an illustrator who writes.

- Chris Riddell

Love, Writing, Process, Writing Process

Do you have hands? Excellent. That's a good start. Can you hold a pencil? Great. If you have a sketchbook, open it and start by making a line, a mark, wherever. Doodle.

- Chris Riddell

Hands, Making, Excellent, Wherever

Fans write to us via our publisher and more than ever via the Internet, blogs and fan sites, and good writers should be actively seeking out that interaction. Gone are the days when writers are dead or hidden away in dusty attics; nowadays, you've got to get out there.

- Chris Riddell

Hidden, Away, Blogs, Actively

As a child, I copied Tenniel's illustrations from 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' obsessively, particularly his drawing of the white rabbit in waistcoat and frockcoat, umbrella tucked under one arm and a fob watch in paw, a look of suppressed panic in his eye.

- Chris Riddell

Illustrations, Copied, Alice, Wonderland

I'm calling myself 'The Doodler,' and with the simple addition of a small burglar's mask, I achieve utter anonymity.

- Chris Riddell

Small, Achieve, Utter, Anonymity

The 'Chronicles of Narnia' have been favourites of mine since my childhood when I misread 'Aslan' as 'Alsatian' and was struck by the genius of naming a lion after a dog!

- Chris Riddell

Been, Mine, Favourites, Naming

Go out and find a copy of 'The Shrinking Of Treehorn' and its sequel, 'Treehorn's Treasure.' Written by Florence Parry Heide and illustrated by the great Edward Gorey, master of the gothic and the macabre, these books are small masterpieces.

- Chris Riddell

Small, Go, Gothic, Florence

When I left art school and went in search of work, visiting publishers and showing them my drawings and illustrations, I was met with a polite and sometimes enthusiastic response but no commissions.

- Chris Riddell

Art, Polite, Illustrations, Art School

There are loads of fan sites for the 'Edge,' including deviant art, song lyrics using 'Edge' language, multiple entries on Wikipedia, there are even some 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' games all about the 'Edge.'

- Chris Riddell

Art, Song, Some, Lyrics

The computer is a tool, just like pencil or charcoal, allowing illustrators to manipulate images from their sketchbooks.

- Chris Riddell

Like, Images, Allowing, Manipulate

No politician would ever comment on a cartoon unless it was to show what a great sense of humour they have, that they can laugh at themselves.

- Chris Riddell

Cartoon, Show, Great Sense, Comment

Wherever there are words, let there be pictures.

- Chris Riddell

Words, Pictures, Wherever

School librarians play such an enormous role in bringing children to books they are going to enjoy. It's a magic alchemy when that works.

- Chris Riddell

Magic, Play, Role, Alchemy

I'm not a painter by any stretch of the imagination; I'm a dyed-in-the-wool traditional illustrator, and I begin with black and white. If I need colour, I add it over the top. There's a calligraphic element to it... it's about the texture of lines on the page.

- Chris Riddell

White, Stretch, About, Element

A drop in younger children visiting libraries is of great concern. As children's laureate, I am passionate about the role of libraries, both in schools and in the wider community. They are unique places where children can begin their journey as readers, as well as being creative hubs.

- Chris Riddell

Drop, Wider, Visiting, Readers

I would like to say to children, 'Don't stop drawing. Don't tell yourself you can't draw.' Everyone can draw. If you make a mark on a page, you can draw.

- Chris Riddell

Tell, Everyone, Like, Mark

I want to show how much fun you can have drawing... parents and children can draw together as a wonderful shared activity.

- Chris Riddell

Want, Activity, Shared, Draw

My sketchbook is not sacrosanct, and my children would draw on one page while I drew on the other. It was something we shared.

- Chris Riddell

Other, Shared, While, Draw

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