PHILIP RIDLEY was born in the East End of London, where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St Martin's School of Art and by the time he graduated had exhibited widely throughout Europe and written his first novel. As well as books and plays for adults, Philip has written many other books for children including Krindlekrax (1991), winner of the Smarties Prize and the WH Smith, Mind-Boggling Books Award, Kasper in the Glitter (1994), nominated for the Whitbread Prize, and Scribbleboy (1997), shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. His work has been translated into seventeen languages.