Adam Hargreaves

Adam Hargreaves was born on June 18, 1963, in Surrey, England. He is the son of the late Roger Hargreaves, the creator of the popular Mr. Men series. Adam himself served as the initial inspiration for the series when, at eight years old, he asked his father, “What does a tickle look like?” This question led to the creation of the first Mr. Men book, “Mr. Tickle”, published in August 1971. Although initially considering a career in farming, Adam eventually took over the Mr. Men and Little Miss franchise after his father’s death in 1988, ensuring the continuation of the series for new generations of readers.

Hargreaves’ career progression involved a shift from farming, including work on an arable and beef farm in Sussex and as a dairyman after attending Plumpton Agricultural College in 1984. He then spent four months in Australia before his father’s passing in 1988 due to a series of strokes. Assuming control of the family business, he dedicated years to mastering his father’s distinct art style, a process of “trial and error” that followed a foundation course at Brighton Art College. This dedication allowed him to continue creating new stories and characters for the franchise, maintaining its established tone and humor.

Since taking over, Adam Hargreaves has been instrumental in growing the Mr. Men and Little Miss brand. In 2004, the family sold the rights to Chorion for £28 million, yet Hargreaves remained the public face of the franchise. He has continued to author and illustrate new books, expanding the universe of characters. He created “Little Miss Stella” in 2006 for Stella McCartney’s fashion show invitations and released “Little Miss Princess” in 2011 to mark the series’ 40th anniversary, coinciding with the royal wedding. Beyond his work on the Mr. Men series, Hargreaves also pursues his passion for painting, with his works displayed in various art galleries. In 2017, he developed a new character, Mr. Isle of Man, for the island’s annual literature festival.