Colin Winn attended Cheltenham College of Art. He was for many years a graphic designer and illustrator and much of his early design career was concerned producing magazine designs, including a high-profile redesign of a retailer magazine for Shell UK Ltd. He had conceived the idea for Harry and his adventures in 2001, but a stint of moving house to France and setting up a painting holiday business from his then Burgundian home put the fruition of this particular project on hold. His concept now comes to life in the guise of Harry Hairylegs.