E.H.Shepard 

Ernest H. Shepard, the man who drawned Pooh, were born on  December 10 1887. At school St. Paul's School, he made so much jokes that he got the nicknames 'Chicken' and 'Kipper' (an abbreviation of 'giddy kipper' a popular expression in that time) . Already  was clear that he had artistic talent. He wanted to study  at the Heatherley's for Finn Art and at the Royal Academy. In that time, he illustrated books and magazins, and from 1907, he worked regularly for Punch.

At the Royal Academy, he met Florence Chaplin. She was a fellow student of Shepard and the granddaughter of the artist Ebenezer Landells, one of the founders of the Punch. In 1904, he married her and they moved to Shamley Green in Surrey. There came two children, Graham  was born in 1907 and Mary two year later in 1909.

When the First World War broke out he went in service by the division 105 Seige Battery. He was witness of the continuous fights actions and the bloodiest fight in that days: the fights at the Summe. It is unbelievable that he under that abominations kept his good mood and remained a driven illustrator, under others for Punch. He sign experienced what he saw in the trenches. When in 1918 the peaces were closed, he had made promotion to the rang of major, and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in the field.

Back in England at his beloved family, Shepard developed himself till a topillustrator, that especially sign for Punch. When in 1924 the first poems of Milne 'When we were very young' were placed in Punch, Ernest Shepard got the task to make the drawings. That meant the beginning of a brilliant cooperation. Initially Milne doubted to it, if Shepard was well the good illustrator for his work. Only of that came rush he enough back.

He thanked him in a poem and even asked him to design his tombstone with two drawings. Now that the unthinkable, that Poeh has been drawn by someone else. As perfect Shepards signs fit by the atmosphere of Milnes text.

For the drawing of Pooh stood in reality Growler, the plush bear of Shepards son, Graham, model. Growler was a round plush bear with short legs, that we recognize as Poeh. The plush of Christopher Robin was a little longer and more thinner. And naturally Shepard sel wanted to take a look at Cotchford Farm. He sketched there the cuddle animals of Christopher Robin and the beautiful landscape, that's no more thinking away by the stories.

E. H. Shepard became decorated in 1972 through the British Kingdom. He died in March 1976 on the age of 96 year.

Almost all of this information came from the book "The complet book of Winnie the Pooh"