Victor Ambrus
August 19, 1935–February 10, 2021
Why
An illustrator of children’s books who later switched careers and became known to newer generations as “that guy who draws excavation stuff on TV”.
Who
Victor Ambrus was born László Győző Ambrus on August 19, 1935, Budapest, Hungary. His first illustrations as a child were made on trips to the countryside, where he learnt to draw horses. Growing up, he was influenced by Hungarian artist Mihály Zichy, English illustrator E. H. Shepard (of the original Winnie-the-Pooh fame), and the historical paintings he saw in public art galleries.
In 1953 Ambrus entered the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts for a four-year program. There he was taught drawing, anatomy and printmaking. In 1956 the Hungarian Revolution against the Soviet-backed government interrupted his studies and changed his life. In December of that year, he and other students fled the country. They first went to Austria, but Victor ended up in Britain.
Before he left Hungary, Ambrus had managed to publish one book, but his career in England as an artist had to begin anew. He first managed to get admitted to the Farnham Art School, soon got recommended for the Royal College of Art in London. Ambrus obtained scholarship to study printmaking and illustration there for three years.
