"It's nice to be back to meet the readers," Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler told the Isle of Wight County Press after his sold out session at last weekend's Isle of Wight Story Festival.

The 61-year-old has brought to life some of the most enduring of children's book characters, working alongside author Julia Donaldson.

Thanks to his drawings, we know what Zog, Superworm, Tiddler and Stickman look like and we can point out the characters in Room on the Broom and the Gruffalo series.

Axel, who has previously visited the Isle of Wight a tourist, says he did not grow up with many picture books. Instead, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Asterix and cartoonists were his inspiration.

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Fortunately, for generations of families, he liked to draw and 'needed to earn a living'.

After his talk at the Quay Arts-based festival, which ran on February 26 and 27, he spent around an hour signing books - taking the time to add individual illustrations for those who came to see him.

He says it is 'rewarding' to illustrate for children, adding "there are always new children. The pictures seem to work for them after all these years."

So what are Axel Scheffler's top tips for those keen to follow in his footsteps?

"Read a lot of books, look at illustrators' work, draw a lot. There's no secret formula," he revealed.

Isle of Wight County Press: Axel Scheffler.Axel Scheffler.

Also speaking at the Isle of Wight Story Festival was award-winning author Kieran Larwood.

The former Isle of Wight teacher is known for his Five Realms series, about the adventures of heroic rabbit Podkin One Ear and now, Carnival of the Lost.

With a new book out in September and other exciting plans for 2022, he told the County Press it was great to be back in front of real people again, after so long behind cameras.