Helen Craig

Helen Craig is an English children's book illustrator, writer, and sculptor born on 30 August 1934 in London, United Kingdom. She grew up during the turbulence of World War II, being evacuated from the city and later educated in Essex before attending King Alfred's School in Hertfordshire and completing her studies in London. In the early 1950s she embarked on a career as a portrait photographer in North London, capturing the post‑war spirit of the capital, and after a few years she relocated to Spain for three years where she discovered a passion for ceramic sculpture, creating small figurative works that reflected her keen eye for form. Returning to Britain in 1967, Craig shifted her focus to children’s literature, beginning to illustrate books in 1970 and quickly establishing a reputation for delicate line work and expressive characters. Her first fully authored and illustrated title, The Mouse House ABC (1977), showcased her ability to blend education with whimsy, a quality that would define much of her later work. Collaborating with writer Katharine Holabird, Craig created the beloved Angelina Ballerina series, a cornerstone of British picture‑book publishing that introduced generations of young readers to the world of ballet through a charming mouse protagonist. With co‑author Sarah Hayes she also developed the popular Bear character, appearing in a trio of titles from 1986 to 1992 that combined gentle storytelling with vivid illustration. Throughout her career Craig has drawn on a rich artistic heritage: she is the daughter of film designer Edward Carrick, the granddaughter of scenic designer Edward Gordon Craig, and the great‑granddaughter of famed stage actress Ellen Terry, influences that are reflected in her sophisticated visual storytelling. In recent years she has returned to sculpture, producing small figurative pieces and even restoring a historic mosaic gravestone created by her great‑grandfather Gaetano Meo, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to both the fine and applied arts.