Who illustrated the original Chronicles of Narnia books written by C.S. Lewis?

Pauline Baynes illustrated the original Chronicles of Narnia books written by C.S. Lewis.

Baynes was an English illustrator who created the maps, cover designs, and interior illustrations associated with the first editions of Lewis’s Narnia stories. Her black-and-white drawings became closely identified with the books and helped establish the visual character of Narnia for early readers.

Lewis was introduced to Baynes through J.R.R. Tolkien, whose publisher had asked her to illustrate The Hobbit. Baynes went on to illustrate all seven Narnia books, beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1950. Her work included recurring visual details for characters, creatures, weapons, and settings.

Baynes is sometimes confused with illustrators connected with other classic children’s literature, such as E.H. Shepard, who illustrated A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books. The later Narnia film adaptations used new cinematic designs rather than Baynes’s original illustrations.