Nikolai Popov was born in Saratov, in Central Russia. He is a gifted artist and is also widely regarded as one of the best children's book illustrators in Russia. He has exhibited his art in Moscow, Prague, Bratislava, Tokyo, Rome and Venice, among other cities. He has won many prestigious awards, including two gold medals at the International Exhibition of Book Art (Leipzig), the Grand Prix and Gold Medal at the International Biennial of Illustration (Bratislava), the Silver Medal at the Painter's Academy (USSR), and he has been named an Honored Artist of Russia. He lives in Moscow.