Shepard, Ernest H.

E.H. Shepard (1879-1976) is most well-known, of course, for his illustrations of the Winnie the Pooh books written by A.A. Milne. But Shepard was more than Pooh's illustrator, working for Punch magazine starting during WWI and becoming a regular contributor beginning in 1921. Shepard eventually became Punch's lead cartoonist in 1945, a post he held for eight years.

In addition to the Pooh books, Shepard is fondly remembered for his beautiful illustrations done for Kenneth Grahame's 1931 book, The Wind in the Willows. Grahame was quite particular as to who would illustrate his characters and was smitten with Shepard's sketches done when Shepard visited the older Grahame.

Ernest Shepard was miscast in a good deal of his work. During WWII, he was put to work as a political cartoonist for Punch, but portraits were not his forte and the work often look labored. Shepard excelled with a gentle approach to illustration, with that somewhat scratchy line of his providing a classic, yet light and lively approach to his subject matter.