Chris Riddell is a South African-born English illustrator and occasional writer of children's books, as well as a political cartoonist for The Observer. He was born on April 13, 1962, in Cape Town, South Africa. His father was an Anglican priest and a member of the ANC, and the family moved to England in 1963, when Chris was one year old. During his childhood, his family moved between various locations in England due to his father's parish assignments.

Riddell is renowned for his contributions to children's literature, having won three Kate Greenaway Medals, the British librarians' annual award for the best-illustrated children's book. Several of his works have also been recognized as runners-up. Additionally, books he wrote or illustrated have won three Nestlé Smarties Book Prizes and have been recognized as silver or bronze runners-up four times.

On June 9, 2015, he was appointed the UK Children's Laureate. He is the creator of more than one hundred books for all ages, including the immensely popular series The Edge Chronicles.