Chris Riddell - Popular illustrator and cartoonist set to honoured by university

Chris, who also created the Costa-prize winning Goth Girl series, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree in recognition of his major contribution to children’s literature and encouraging visual literacy.

He was also previously a winner of the University’s Alumnus Award in 2013, after graduating from the University in 1984 with a degree in graphic design, studying under The Snowman illustrator and former University of Brighton teacher Raymond Briggs CBE.

Chris is a renowned political cartoonist with his work appearing in the Economist, Independent on Sunday, Guardian and Observer. He has also provided cover art for the New Statesman and Literary Review.

Chris, who lives in Brighton, has retained close links with the University and created the character of Professor C. Gull which acts as a guide to university for younger children as part of the University’s efforts to widen participation in Higher Education, especially amongst children from non-traditional backgrounds.

In 2015, Chris became the UK’s ninth Children’s Laureate and in this role he championed creativity and the importance of visual literacy.

The award will be presented on Friday (February 8) when more than 2,000 University of Brighton students will graduate, many attending ceremonies at the Brighton Centre. Keynote speaker at the awards ceremony will be University graduate Sonia Cargan who last year was appointed Chief Diversity Officer for American Express. Sonia, who lives in Brighton, is responsible for the company’s global diversity and inclusion strategy.

Sonia, who graduated from the then Brighton Polytechnic in 1991 with a BA(Hons) degree in social administration, is focusing her work on “evolving initiatives to attract, hire, develop and retain diverse talent and promoting an inclusive culture throughout the employee lifecycle”.