Rosemary Elizabeth (Posy) Simmonds was born August 9, 1945 in Berkshire, England.

Simmonds attended the Sorbonne and earned a B. A. in art and design from the Central School of Art and Design.

She married Richard Hollis in 1974.

Simmonds has been a cartoonist for the London Times (1967-72), the Manchester Guardian (1977-87, 1988-90), and the Spectator magazine (1988-90). She has taught graphic arts and has exhibited at various galleries and museums in England.

She was awarded an M.B.E. in 2002 for service to the newspaper industry.

Simmonds has been compared to Jane Austen for her "creativity and narrative skill."

She is also compared to American cartoonist Jules Feiffer for her social satire and to Raymond Briggs, an English author/illustrator. (Contemporary Authors Online)

"As a cartoonist for adults, Simmonds often is celebrated for her draftsmanship and design as well as for the wit and energy that she brings to her black-and-white comics, some of which include color washes, and to the dialogue in her word balloons. She is also acknowledged for her willingness to experiment and for incorporating older artistic styles, such as Greek and Rococo, into her works. . . . "

In her children's books she "favors colorful pictures in a cartoon-like style. She uses line, crayon, and dialogue balloons to create her art, which is often noted for its vibrancy and attention to detail. . . ." (Contemporary Authors Online)

Simmonds is the author and illustrator of books for both children and adults and has also worked as a scriptwriter for films and documentaries.

Her children's book Fred (1987), about a cat who was a rock star, was turned into an animated short film, Famous Fred, that was nominated for an Academy Award.

Major works include:

• Gemma Bovery (1999)
• True Love (1981)

• Posy Simmonds, Contemporary Authors

• Posy Simmonds, The British Council, Contemporary Writers
• Posy Simmonds, The British Council, The Magic Pencil
• Posy Simmonds, Read Yourself Raw
• Posy Simmonds, Wikipedia