Shirley Hughes’ husband’s name is John Sebastian Papendiek Vulliamy. He was an etcher and architect. She got married to her partner in 1952 and stayed married till 2007 till his death. 

When her husband passed away, she was doing okay during the weeks. However, the weekends felt like hell, which is why she began writing novels to make the days more bearable. She began enjoying writing and started doing more, reports Independent. 

Hughes was a self-taught illustrator who began her career illustrating other authors’ work. Her 1977 book Dogger was her breakthrough and won her a Kate Greenaway Medal. In 2007, it got voted the public’s favorite Greenaway winner of all time.

She was born and raised in West Kirby, Wirral, England. She went to West Kirby Grammar School but left to join Liverpool School of Arts to study costume design and drawing. She also went to the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford.

Shirley Hughes died on February 25, 2022, at the age of 94 years. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in London on Friday, reports Daily Mail.

The news of her death was confirmed through a statement on Twitter by her family. They announced that the author had died peacefully in her sleep, and her children’s names got mentioned in the statement. 

Shirley Hughes has three children with her husband, John Sebastian Papendiek Vulliamy. Shirley spent most of her life in Notting Hill, where she and her husband brought up their three kids. 

Their first son Ed Vulliamy is a journalist. Their second son, Tom Vulliamy, is a molecular biologist, whereas their daughter, Clara Vulliamy, works as an author and illustrator. Hughes has seven grandchildren, reports The Guardian.