Born in the small town of Orekhovo-Zuevo, near Moscow, Spirin studied at the

Moscow Art School at the Academy of Arts, then at the Moscow Stroganov

Institute. Over the years he developed his own, unique style, combining

traditional Russian contemporary art technique with the great traditions of the

Renaissance.

In 1979, Spirin came to international attention through his impressive

illustrations for a variety of children’s books. In a short time, he was

winning awards and gaining honors throughout the world.

In 1983, he was named “Winner of the Golden Apple” at the “Biennale of

Illustrations” in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, for his illustrations in the book

Marissa and the Gnome.Gennady won the 1990 Austrian State Prize for his work in

The Fool and the Fish, which was also named one of the year’s best-illustrated

children’s books by The New York Times. That august publication subsequently

cited Spirin’s work in Gulliver’s Travels in Lilliput (1993) and Kashtahka

(1995).

In 1991 Spirin received the first prize “Fiera di Bologna” for his work in the

book Sorotchintsy Fair. He has also received three gold medals in three

successive years from the Society of Illustrators, for his paintings in Boots

and the Glass Mountain (1992), The Children of Lir (1993), and The Frog

Princess (1994)—then, again, for the fourth time in 1996 for The Tale of Tsar

Saltan.

Kashtahka was something of a landmark for Spirin. In addition to the

aforementioned award, his illustrations for this volume were also bestowed with

first prize in the 1994 “Premi Internacional Catalonia D’Illustracio” in

Barcelona, Spain and a “Parent’s Choice” Honor. In all of Spirin’s work, his

sense of design and artistic skill elevates his illustration work to a fine art

level, showcasing his fascinating characters in a lush environment that

combines to create an artistic experience like no other.