Education
As a schoolboy, Bestall attended Rydal Mount in Colwyn Bay from 1904 to 1911. Following the war, Bestall finished his studies at the Central School of Art and was hired to illustrate books by Enid Blyton.
As a schoolboy, Bestall attended Rydal Mount in Colwyn Bay from 1904 to 1911. Following the war, Bestall finished his studies at the Central School of Art and was hired to illustrate books by Enid Blyton.
He served in World War I in the British Army in 1915 in Flanders, where he transported troops in red double-decker London buses. Professional career He also began doing paintings for The Amalgamated Press and did illustrations for Punch and Tatler, as well as for over 50 books In 1935, Bestall was selected to take over the Daily Express’s Rupert Bear stories from Mary Tourtel.
Bestall improved the stories and plots of Rupert, but more importantly, he created the most beautifully crafted illustrations in the Rupert Bear Annual publications.
Much of the landscape in Rupert is inspired by the Snowdonia landscape of North Wales, notably around Beddgelert. Bestall produced his last Rupert story on 22 July 1965.
He retired from the Daily Express in July 1965, but continued creating Annual publication covers until 1973. Bestall also drew illustrations for the Whitcombe"s Story Book, a form of children"s reader published in Australasia by Whitcombe & Tombs Limited.
These books were undated.
But Bestall"s work appears in the 500 numbers, possibly published in the 1950s. Personal life Although living in suburban Surbiton, Surrey, after World World War II, he regularly holidayed in Nantgwynant, near Beddgelert, and in 1956 bought a cottage at the foot of Mynydd Sygun, in Beddgelert, which he subsequently also named "Penlan". After the formation of the British Origami Society in 1967, Bestall took an active interest, including serving as its president for many years, until his death.
On his 93rd birthday, Prince Charles sent him a telemessage, which read: "I have heard that you were sadly unable to receive your Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire from the Queen recently.
I wanted to send you my congratulations on your award and to wish you a very happy birthday with many happy returns. As a child I well remember your marvellous illustrations of Rupert Bear." In May 2006, Bestall was commemorated with an English Heritage Blue plaque at 58 Cranes Park, Surbiton, London, where he lived for 30 years.
Bestall died on 15 January 1986, aged 93, at Wern Manor Nursing Home in Porthmadog, Wales. He is buried in plot 100 of Brookwood Cemetery.
In 1985, Bestall was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II, who appointed him a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire).