Raymond Briggs was born in London in 1934. At the age of fifteen, he went to Wimbledon School of Art to learn how to draw, as he wanted to become a cartoonist. But there he was told that cartooning was not a profession for gentlemen and that he ought to be a painter. Raymond then went on to the Slade School in London to study painting as a full-time student. During his spare time, he began work on a portfolio of illustrations of all kinds, including jackets and a wide selection of drawings to take to publishers. After illustrating for advertising, newspapers, and books, Raymond discovered that book illustration inspired him the most, since it offered far greater variety and freedom than anything else. Raymond has always found it unfavorable to sustain a consistent illustration style for a long period of time. He is always seeking to try something new and different with his work.

Some of Raymond's best-known books are The Snowman, The Man, and The Bear. The setting for The Snowman is based on Raymond's own house and garden, which is in Sussex, England, at the foot of South Downs, a few miles from Brighton.