Dubbed as the "Beloved Enchanter", Rackham was arguably the most successful artist in the Golden Age of children’s book illustration. His name immediately evokes images of gnomes, fairies and dragons, gallant knights and beautiful princesses-a direct inspiration for Walt Disney many years later. To his friends he is remembered as a gentle, loving and generous man.
His talent for drawing was evident when he smuggled pencil and paper to bed and drew on his pillow before going to sleep. At school his drawings earned him a school prize.
He set to work as a clerk in the Westminster Fire Office while attending art classes in the evenings. At 25 he became a full-time Professional artist caricaturing well-known politicians, actresses and members of royal family.
In 1903 his career as an illustrator began and five years later he became recognised as a truly great artist. He began with the decorative illustration of Rip Van Winkle then J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. A critic wrote of the later work:
"Mr. Rackham seems to have dropped out of some cloud in Mr. Barrie’s fairyland, sent by special providence to make pictures in tune with his whimsical genius"
To end his wonderful career Arthur Rackham was contracted to illustrate "Wind in the Willows" which he completed shortly before his death in 1939. He filled these endearing characters with the happiness and affectionate humour he was known for.