Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, and writer known for his literary nonsense and limericks. He is best known for his literary works such as "The Owl and the Pussycat" and for his detailed and whimsical illustrations of birds and landscapes. Lear was also a talented landscape painter and traveled extensively, producing numerous sketches and paintings of the places he visited. He is considered a significant figure in the genre of literary nonsense and has had a lasting influence on children's literature and the world of illustration.