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ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ graduate Axel Scheffler and the return of literature’s beloved monster, The Gruffalo

Thursday, 10 September, 2026

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ Visual Communications graduate and renowned illustrator of The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler, is set to see his drawings back on the shelves as the next book in the Gruffalo series, Gruffalo Granny, is released.  

German-born, Axel relocated to Bath in 1982, choosing to study Visual Communications at what was then the Bath Academy of Art (now BSU). He spent the next few years studying at Corsham Court, with a spell abroad on an exchange in New York. It was during his time at the Academy of Art that he decided to become an illustrator and, after graduating in 1985, went on to work in advertising and publishing before establishing himself as one of the most beloved illustrators of his generation. 

Discussing his time at the Academy of Art in an exclusive interview with BSU in 2024, Axel said:  

“The course gave me the chance to draw extensively for three years and that really helped me to develop my style. We tried lots of different techniques such as print making, book binding, photography, etching, typography, and the exploration of all these different disciplines of visual communications really helped me realise that illustration was something that I wanted to do.” 

Axel is best known for his collaborations with British author Julia Donaldson. A household name in the world of illustration, his drawings have brought many of Julia’s characters to life, including Room on the Broom and Stick Man. He has been awarded a host of accolades for his work, including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the British Book Award for Children's Illustrated Book. In 2022, he received the Federal Cross of Merit from the German government for his contributions to children's literature. 

His partnership with Julia saw the release of The Gruffalo in 1999, followed by The Gruffalo's Child in 2004. Together, the two books have sold more than 18 million copies worldwide in over 100 languages, been adapted for the stage and an Oscar-nominated film.

Gruffalo Granny, the long-awaited third instalment in the Gruffalo series, will be published by Macmillan Children's Books on 10 September, more than twenty years after The Gruffalo's Child. The story takes us back to the wood, where a new character, the Gruffalo's own mother, comes to visit. 

Gruffalo Granny will be released in bookstores on 10 September 2026. Explore BSU’s MA in Visual Communication on the dedicated course page.

Photographer credit: Liam Jackson