Arnal Ballester (Barcelona 1955), an illustrator, studied art at L’Escola Massana and the Escola D’Arts Applicades I Ofici Artístics in Barcelona. He is currently professor of illustration at L’Escola Massana. His professional career began drawing newspaper comic strips in the early 1970s, and includes work in newspapers, magazines, posters and books. He won the Premio Nacional del Ministerio de Cultura for the best illustrated book for children and young people (1993), the UNICEF Illustrator of the Year Award at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (1994) and the Premio de la Crítica Serra d’Or (1995).