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Charles Keeping

チャールズ・キーピング

Chāruzu Kīpingu

Aliases: Charles William James Keeping

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1924-09-22 （Lambeth, London）
Died
1988-05-16 （London） age 63
Nationality
England, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Religion
Unknown
Residence History
Lambeth, London → Shortlands, Bromley

Career

Occupations
Illustrator, Children's book author, Lithographer
Active Years
1952-1988
Affiliations
Oxford University Press, Folio Society
Nominations
Hans Christian Andersen Award runner-up (1974)

Education

Regent Street Polytechnic
Illustration and Lithography
Period: 1949-1952
Year of Graduation: 1952
Country: United Kingdom
Studied full-time on grant

Awards

Kate Greenaway Medal
1967
Work: Charley, Charlotte and the Golden Canary
Category: 児童書イラスト
Organization: Library Association
Result: Winner
Kate Greenaway Medal
1981
Work: The Highwayman
Category: 児童書イラスト
Organization: Library Association
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Charley, Charlotte and the Golden Canary

1967 Children's literature

Story of two children and a pet canary, depicting changes in London.

London streetsChildhoodUrbanization

The Highwayman

1981 Picture book

Illustrated edition of Alfred Noyes's poem with gruesome details.

HighwaymanRomanceDeath

The God Beneath the Sea

1970 Myth retelling

Retelling of Greek myths by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen, illustrated by Keeping.

Greek mythsGodsSea

Beowulf

1982 Epic poetry

Kevin Crossley-Holland's adaptation illustrated with sympathy for the monster.

MonsterHeroAncient

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Vibrant colorsSponge texturingWax resistLine and wash
Recurring Motifs
Working horsesLondon streetsChild's perspectiveViolence and macabre

Health

  • Clinical depression
    1946頃
    Required treatment and institutionalization, full recovery
  • Brain tumour
    1988
    Cause of death

Legacy

Innovator in children's book illustration. Won Kate Greenaway Medal twice. Illustrated complete works of Charles Dickens.

Archives

  • Victoria and Albert Museum

Trivia

  • Experienced depression after war, possibly influencing sympathetic Grendel in Beowulf.
  • Married Renate Meyer, four children.