Stephen Gammell

Stephen Gammell (1943 – ) is a self-taught artist and illustrator from the USA, best known for his ghostly and surreal illustrations in children's horror books, notably "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark". Raised in a home where his father was an art editor for consumer magazines, Gammell was exposed to a variety of periodicals and art supplies from a young age, which fuelled his passion for drawing. His distinctive style is characterised by fluid, amorphous forms and a muted, often monochromatic palette, employing techniques such as watercolour, ink, and pencil. His work, which creates an unsettling atmosphere, aligns with the contemporary illustration movement in the USA, challenging the conventions of children's book art.