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{{Short description|English children's book author and illustrator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2013}}{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2013}}{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
{{other people|Eric Hill}}
{{other people|Eric Hill}}
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| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Eric Gordon Hill
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1927|9|7}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1927|9|7}}
| birth_place = [[Holloway, London]], England
| birth_place = [[Holloway, London|Holloway]], [[London]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2014|6|6|1927|9|7}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2014|6|6|1927|9|7}}
| death_place = [[Templeton, California]], USA
| death_place = [[Templeton, California]], U.S.
| occupation = Children's author, illustrator
| occupation = Children's author, illustrator
| nationality = British
| nationality = British
| notableworks = ''[[Spot the Dog]]''
| notableworks = ''[[Where's Spot?]]''
| spouse = First wife<br>Gillian
| children = 2
}}
}}
'''Eric Gordon Hill''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (7 September 1927 – 6 June 2014) was an [[English people|English]] [[author]] and [[illustrator]] of children's picture books, best known for his character [[Spot the Dog]]. His works have been widely praised for their contributions to [[literacy|child literacy]].
'''Eric Hill''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (7 September 1927 – 6 June 2014) was an [[English people|English]] [[author]] and [[illustrator]] of children's picture books. He was best known for his puppy character named [[Spot the dog|Spot]]. His works have been widely praised for their contributions to [[literacy|child literacy]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/12976/eric-hill|title=Eric Hill {{!}} Penguin Random House|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
He was born in [[Holloway, London]], and left school at 14. He first worked as an [[errand boy]] in an illustration studio where he was encouraged to draw cartoons and [[comic strip]]s in his spare time.<ref name="guardian">[http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/10/spot-the-dog-eric-hill-dies-86 "Spot the Dog creator Eric Hill dies aged 86"], ''The Guardian'', 10 June 2014</ref> Following [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|National Service]], he produced sketches for magazines, and later worked as a freelance designer and illustrator in advertising.<ref name=bbc>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27778846 BBC News, "Spot the Dog creator Eric Hill dies aged 86", 10 June 2014]. Retrieved 10 June 2014</ref><ref name=telegraph>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10889726/Eric-Hill-obituary.html Eric Hill - obituary, ''The Telegraph'', 10 June 2014]. Retrieved 11 June 2014</ref>
Hill was born on 7 September 1927 in [[Holloway, London]], but was evacuated to the countryside during World War II.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2014/06/10/wheres-spot-by-eric-hill/10300747/|title=Eric Hill, children's author/illustrator, dead at 86|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref> He left school at 14 and first worked as an [[errand boy]] in an illustration studio where he was encouraged to draw cartoons and [[comic strip]]s in his spare time.<ref name="guardian">[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/10/spot-the-dog-eric-hill-dies-86 "Spot the Dog creator Eric Hill dies aged 86"], ''The Guardian'', 10 June 2014</ref> Following [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|National Service]], he produced sketches for magazines, and later worked as a freelance designer and illustrator in advertising.<ref name=bbc>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27778846 BBC News, "Spot the Dog creator Eric Hill dies aged 86", 10 June 2014]. Retrieved 10 June 2014</ref><ref name=telegraph>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10889726/Eric-Hill-obituary.html Eric Hill - obituary, ''The Telegraph'', 10 June 2014]. Retrieved 11 June 2014</ref>


⚫
He moved with his family to [[Tucson, Arizona]] in 1983 and then to a [[ranch]] in [[California]].<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=penguin>{{cite web|url=http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000015103,00.html|title=Biography from Penguin Books|publisher=Penguin Books|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820034421/http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000015103,00.html|archivedate=20 August 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He appeared on ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'' episode no. 1645 where he and [[Fred Rogers]] discussed the making of a page in a ''Spot'' book.
⚫
He started writing about Spot the playful puppy in 1976 for his little son Christopher. In that first book, Spot was hiding behind little flaps which could be lifted by small children, an innovation which he devised.<ref name="guardian"/> Hill said that he aimed to recognise "that children have far more intelligence and style than many adults credit them with", and to invite them to experience "ideas which were just outside their experience yet were basic enough to be understood. In ''Where's Spot?'' I thought it would be fun to draw a chair—in a period style rather than a straightforward type. A [[grand piano]] instead of an upright—pink rather than brown. Tables with [[cabriole leg]]s and other decorative details. All to broaden the visual scope that a book can bring to a young mind."<ref name="guardian"/>


⚫
He was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[New Year Honours 2008|2008 New Year Honours]] for his contributions to child literacy.<ref name=":1" /> Hill died on 6 June 2014, at his home in California at the age of 86.<ref name="guardian"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/eric-hill-illustrator-whose-invention-of-the-lifttheflap-book-helped-make-his-creation-spot-the-dog-a-childrens-favourite-9530566.html|title=Eric Hill obituary|work=[[The Independent]]|date=12 June 2014}}</ref>
⚫
After a friend introduced him to a [[literary agent]], his first book ''Where’s Spot?'' was published in 1980 by [[Frederick Warne & Co]] and quickly became popular. He then produced a series of similar books and expanded the range of characters. His books are estimated to have sold more than 60 million copies.<ref name=bbc/> The stories were translated into 60 languages, and led to a series of [[animation|animated]] stories for television as well as [[merchandise]].<ref name=telegraph/><ref name="guardian"/>


He and his second wife Gillian had two children, Christopher and Jane.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
He moved with his family to [[Tucson, Arizona]] in 1983 and then to a [[ranch]] in [[California]].<ref name=telegraph/><ref name=penguin>[http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000015103,00.html Biography from Penguin Books]</ref> He appeared on ''[[Mister Rogers' Neighborhood]]'' episode no. 1645 where he and [[Fred Rogers]] discussed the making of a page in a ''Spot'' book.


==''Where's Spot?'' ==
⚫
He was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[New Year Honours 2008|2008 New Year Honours]]. He died aged 86 on 6 June 2014, at his home in California.<ref name="guardian"/><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/eric-hill-illustrator-whose-invention-of-the-lifttheflap-book-helped-make-his-creation-spot-the-dog-a-childrens-favourite-9530566.html Eric Hill obituary, ''The Independent'', 12 June 2014]</ref>
{{main|Spot (franchise)}}

⚫
Hill created a story of a dog named Spot in 1976 for his son Christopher. In that first book, Spot was hiding behind little flaps which could be lifted by small children, an innovation which he devised.<ref name="guardian"/> Hill said that he aimed to recognise "that children have far more intelligence and style than many adults credit them with", and to invite them to experience "ideas which were just outside their experience yet were basic enough to be understood."<ref name="guardian"/>

⚫
After a friend introduced him to a [[literary agent]], his first book ''[[Where's Spot?]]'' was published in 1980 by [[Frederick Warne & Co]] and quickly became popular. He then produced a series of similar books and expanded the range of characters. His books are estimated to have sold more than 60 million copies.<ref name=bbc/> The stories were translated into 60 languages, and led to a series of [[animation|animated]] stories for television as well as [[merchandise]].<ref name=telegraph/><ref name="guardian"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
{{Portal |Children's literature}}

== External links ==
* [https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll5/id/65593/rec/18 Interview with Eric Hill], ''All About Kids! TV Series'' #4 (1988)


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
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[[Category:English children's writers]]
[[Category:British children's book illustrators]]
[[Category:British children's book illustrators]]
⚫
[[Category:English children's writers]]
[[Category:English expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Holloway, London]]
[[Category:People from Holloway, London]]
[[Category:English expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Writers who illustrated their own writing]]

Latest revision as of 00:31, 27 September 2023

For other people named Eric Hill, see Eric Hill (disambiguation).
Eric Hill

OBE
Born(1927-09-07)7 September 1927
Holloway, London, England
Died6 June 2014(2014-06-06) (aged 86)
Templeton, California, U.S.
OccupationChildren's author, illustrator
NationalityBritish
Notable worksWhere's Spot?
SpouseFirst wife
Gillian
Children2

Eric Hill OBE (7 September 1927 – 6 June 2014) was an English author and illustrator of children's picture books. He was best known for his puppy character named Spot. His works have been widely praised for their contributions to child literacy.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Hill was born on 7 September 1927 in Holloway, London, but was evacuated to the countryside during World War II.[2] He left school at 14 and first worked as an errand boy in an illustration studio where he was encouraged to draw cartoons and comic strips in his spare time.[3] Following National Service, he produced sketches for magazines, and later worked as a freelance designer and illustrator in advertising.[4][5]

He moved with his family to Tucson, Arizona in 1983 and then to a ranch in California.[5][6] He appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood episode no. 1645 where he and Fred Rogers discussed the making of a page in a Spot book.

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours for his contributions to child literacy.[1] Hill died on 6 June 2014, at his home in California at the age of 86.[3][7]

He and his second wife Gillian had two children, Christopher and Jane.[2]

Where's Spot?

[edit]
Main article: Spot (franchise)

Hill created a story of a dog named Spot in 1976 for his son Christopher. In that first book, Spot was hiding behind little flaps which could be lifted by small children, an innovation which he devised.[3] Hill said that he aimed to recognise "that children have far more intelligence and style than many adults credit them with", and to invite them to experience "ideas which were just outside their experience yet were basic enough to be understood."[3]

After a friend introduced him to a literary agent, his first book Where's Spot? was published in 1980 by Frederick Warne & Co and quickly became popular. He then produced a series of similar books and expanded the range of characters. His books are estimated to have sold more than 60 million copies.[4] The stories were translated into 60 languages, and led to a series of animated stories for television as well as merchandise.[5][3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Eric Hill | Penguin Random House". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Eric Hill, children's author/illustrator, dead at 86". USA TODAY. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Spot the Dog creator Eric Hill dies aged 86", The Guardian, 10 June 2014
  4. ^ a b BBC News, "Spot the Dog creator Eric Hill dies aged 86", 10 June 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014
  5. ^ a b c Eric Hill - obituary, The Telegraph, 10 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014
  6. ^ "Biography from Penguin Books". Penguin Books. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007.
  7. ^ "Eric Hill obituary". The Independent. 12 June 2014.
[edit]
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