He was born in Devon, England. After attending the local grammar school he studied at Plymouth Art College. While still at college, he started selling one-off cartoons, particularly to the national press. On leaving college he continued this in order to support himself while painting, drawing regularly for, among others, Punch, Reader’s Digest, and The Times Educational Supplement.

The first book that he sold was of a story he had told at college, Two Can Toucan. It is about a South American bird who can carry two cans of paint atop its enormous bill. This was published by Abelard-Schuman in 1964; a 1985 edition with new illustrations by McKee was re-issued in 2001 by Andersen Press.

The BBC used some of the books on television and asked about the possibility of films. This led to McKee’s first films, a series about Mr Benn. Five films for the Save the Children fund followed, then a series of films based on the King Rollo books, with two friends, Clive Juster and Leo Nielsen. The company King Rollo Films was started. The company maintained its success, with McKee being involved on projects usually as a writer. They have been responsible for various films including Tony Ross’s Towser, Eric Hill’s Spot the Dog, and Lucy Cousins’s Maisy. The company plans to produce 26 animated films of Elmer.

McKee has produced several characters that have developed into book series, including King Rollo and Mr Benn. Another famous creation is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Elmer is now published in more than 20 languages and has spawned a range of merchandise, including soft toys, from London Emblem and other companies worldwide.

David McKee has produced several characters that have developed into book series, including King Rollo and Mr Benn. Another famous creation is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Elmer is now published in more than 20 languages and has spawned a range of merchandise, including soft toys, from London Emblem and other companies worldwide.

McKee has written and illustrated over 30 titles for Andersen and these include:

• The Magician and the Sorcerer (1974) ISBN 0819307726
• Tusk Tusk (1978) ISBN 0-916291-28-6
• Not Now, Bernard (1980) ISBN 0-05-004559-8
• I Hate My Teddybear (1983)
• Two Monsters (1985)
• The Hill and the Rock (1984)
• Elmer (1989) ISBN 0-688-09171-7
• Elmer Again (1991)
• Elmer on Stilts (1993)
• Elmer and Wilbur (1994) ISBN 0-06-075239-4
• Elmer in the Snow (1995)
• Elmer and the Wind (1997)
• Elmer and the Stranger (2000)
• Elmer and the Lost Teddy (1999)
• Elmer Plays Hide and Seek (1998)
• The Elmer Pop up Book (1996)
• Look! There’s Elmer (2000)
• Elmer and Grandpa Eldo (2001)
• The School Bus Comes At 8 O’clock (1993)
• Isabel’s Noisy Tummy (1994)
• The Sad Story of Veronica (1987)
• Snow Woman (1987)
• Zebra’s Hiccups (1991)
• Who’s a Clever Baby Then? (1988)
• The Monster and the Teddy Bear (1989)
• King Rollo and the bread (1979) ISBN 0-316-56044-8
• King Rollo and the new shoes (1979) ISBN 0-316-56044-8
• King Rollo and the birthday (1979) ISBN 0-316-56044-8
• King Rollo and the Letter (1984)
• Two Can Toucan (1985)
• Charlotte’s Piggy Bank (1996)
• Prince Peter and the Teddy Bear (1997)
• Mary’s Secret (1999)
• King Rollo and the New Stockings (2001)
• Mr Benn — Gladiator (2001)
• Elmer’s Concert (2001)
• Elmer and Butterfly (2002)
• Elmer’s New Friend (2002)
• Elmer and the Hippos (2003)
• The Adventures of Charmin the Bear (Illustrated By Joanna Quinn, 2003)
• Who is Mrs. Green? (2003)
• The Conquerors (2004)
• Denver (2010)

He has also illustrated books by other children's authors, including some of the more recent Paddington Bear books.

McKee has produced Elmer board books, bath books, colouring books, an Elmer flap book, an Elmer hole-in-the-page book and an Elmer pop-up book.

King Rollo Films has produced many other animations including Spot the Dog and the animated stories within the BBC's flagship children's program Fimbles.

He recently illustrated the songs 'Toy Boy' and 'Lonely Alcoholic' in singer-songwriter Mika's extended play 'Songs for Sorrow'.

McKee has homes in London and the south of France where he lives with his partner Bakhta, a French-Algerian art-dealer with whom he shares an interest in collecting drawings and African tribal art.

He won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1987.