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Born in England in 1935 where he lived and painted throughout his long career. He was trained as an illustrator and lithographer at The School of Art, Salford University in Manchester, England. Gerrard was a member of the prestigious Royal Academy in London and exhibited there regularly. He was twice awarded the First Prize of L1000 for their annual Christmas Card fund-raising. Gerrard achieved fame in Europe and this country with his fabulously illustrated children's books, illustrating and sometimes authoring. "The Fabershams" brought much publicity and won him the New York Times "Best Illustrated Book of the Year". The book also won the Bologna Book Fair, Graphics Prize. At least four other times his later books were also recognized by the N.Y. Times as "Best Illustrated Books of the Year". His books were published in several foreign languages. During the late 1970's and early 1980's, his watercolors were exhibited in New Orleans and Atlanta. Gerrard's works are again exhibited at the Crescent Gallery the last few years. Gerrard died in Derbyshire, England in 1997. He suffered a fatal heart attack bicycling out alone in the countryside near his home. |