Philip Ridley was born in the East End of London, where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St Martin's School of Art and went on to write adult novels, plays for radio and the screenplay for THE KRAYS. He received considerable acclaim for his first adult novel, IN THE EYES OF MR FURY, and his reputation as a writer for children is soaring. KRINDLEKRAX was the winner of the W H Smith Mind-Boggling Books Award and the children's choice for the Smarties Prize.