Clive Spong is an English illustrator of the Railway Series by W.V. Awdry and his son Christopher Awdry. He illustrates books by Christopher Awdry since 1983. Map showing the railways on the fictional Island of Sodor (click to enlarge). ... The Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, (June 15, 1911 – March 21, 1997) was a clergyman, railway enthusiast and childrens author, best known as the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine. ... Christopher Awdry (born 1940) is a British author best known for his contributions to The Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, which was started by his father Rev. ... Christopher Awdry (born 1940) is a British author best known for his contributions to The Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, which was started by his father Rev. ...

Books:

• Really Useful Engines
• James and the Diesel Engines
• Great Little Engines
• More About Thomas the Tank Engine
• Gordon the High-Speed Engine
• Toby, Trucks & Trouble
• Thomas & the Twins
• Jock the New Engine
• Thomas & the Great Railway Show
• Thomas Comes Home
• Henry & the Express
• Wilbert the Forest Engine
• Thomas & the Fat Controller's Engines
• New Little Engine

History

Spong is a graduate of Leicester College of Art, like John T. Kenney and Clarence Reginald Dalby. He remained the illustrator throughout the run of Christopher Awdry's 14 books, three more than Peter Edwards.

Clive was the first illustrator to break Wilbert's golden rule about engines having no faces outside of Sodor - he did this in book 35, "Thomas and the Great Railway Show" - depicting National Collection engines such as Mallard, Duchess of Hamilton, Green Arrow and Iron Duke (complete with big whiskers) with faces.

Railway Series spinoffs

Spong illustrated pop-up books and the spin-offs, Thomas's Christmas Party, Thomas and the Evil Diesel, Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree and also the rewrite of Thomas Comes to Breakfast.