NICK BUTTERWORTH was born in Kingsbury, North London in 1946, but moved to Romford in Essex with his parents at the age of three. They moved to run a sweet shop, so Nick found himself fulfilling every child’s sugar-coated dream of growing up right inside the proverbial chocolate factory.
Having intended to go to art college after leaving school, Nick decided to take a job as a typographic designer in the printing department of the National Children’s Home at the last minute instead. He went on to work for several major London design consultancies before moving into freelance graphics. He has also worked as a television presenter on the TV-AM children’s programme Rub-a-Dub-Tub and produced a regular illustrated story called Upney Junction for the Sunday Express magazine. Nick now concentrates on writing and illustrating his phenomenally successful children’s books.
Percy The Park Keeper first came to life in One Snowy Night in 1989, which The Sunday Times described as, ‘a tremendous and well-deserved success’ and The Independent called, ‘a heart warming bedtime tale.’ It wasn’t just the reviewers who loved Percy and the world of his park – children, parents and teachers alike fell in love with the kind-hearted park keeper.
Percy and his animal friends have now been charming families for generations and Percy even starred in in his own television series. Global sales of Percy’s books now exceed 9 million copies and this much-loved character celebrated his 30th Anniversary in 2019.
Praise for Nick Butterworth:
“Nick Butterworth is one of the best picture book writers alive.” The Independent
“Nick Butterworth’s picture books are known and loved across the world. His series of titles about Percy the Park Keeper charmed and delighted adults and children alike as it introduced them to a wonderfully created world.” Julia Eccleshare
