Attends the Höhere Graphische Bundes-, Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt (Austrian Federal Education and Research Institute for Graphics) in Vienna.

Studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, where he is the star pupil of Professor Rudolf Hausner.

Hechelmann receives the prize of the Vienna Academy and holds his first exhibition in the Galerie im Stock in Vienna. Since then, he has held numerous shows in Germany and abroad. He illustrates his first fairy tale book “Zwerg Nase” (Little Longnose).

Heinz Dieckmann films “Gegen den Strom” (Against the Current) the first documentary about Friedrich Hechelmann, for German television channel ZDF.

Hechelmann writes the screenplay and directs the film “Das Riesenspielzeug” (The Giant’s Toy), produced by the Süddeutscher Rundfunk Television, Stuttgart.

He purchases the Schiedelhof near Isny and renovates the 19th century building, saving and expanding it.

“Das Gnomenwirtshaus” (The Inn of the Gnomes) is filmed by Süddeutscher Rundfunk Television, Stuttgart. The screenplay, figures, set design and direction are by Friedrich Hechelmann.

Bavarian television broadcasts a comprehensive biography about the painter. The film “Das Gnomenwirtshaus” is nominated by Germany’s ARD television for participation in the “Prix Jeunesse” children’s television awards competition.

At the request of August Everding, Hechelmann designs the sets, furnishings and other elements for a film production of the opera “Hansel and Gretel”.
Hechelmann paints a 20-metre (65-foot) long mural in synthetic resin for the therapeutic spa of the Weissenau State Psychiatric Clinic.

The artist moves out of his family house in Isny and into the Schiedelhof, whose grounds he begins to transform into a garden- and park-like landscape.
Hechelmann is commissioned by Herbert von Karajan to paint the illustrations for the overture’s brochure for the filming of Wagner’s opera “Rheingold”.

Hechelmann exhibits his works in the Villa Stuck in Munich. <br/> Premiere of the book “Phantastes”, illustrated by Hechelmann. Bavarian television reports on the premiere extensively.

Bavarian television reports on the book “Münchhausen”, illustrated by Hechelmann.

Hechelmann is entrusted with the overall artistic direction of the filming of “Ein Weihnachtstraum” (A Christmas Dream) including writing the screenplay and design of the sets and other artistic elements. The SWR Television production was the first experiment with the bluescreen technique in German public television and was broadcast in over 50 countries.

Bavarian television broadcasts a film about the making of “Ein Weihnachtstraum“. Hechelmann meets the writer Michael Ende in Cinzano, Italy. Ende, having seen “Ein Weihnachtstraum”, expresses his wish to collaborate with Hechelmann.

“Ein Weihnachtstraum” wins the Prix Jean D’Arcy in Paris.

The book “Tristan“, illustrated by Hechelmann, is selected by a jury of experts from the Stiftung Buchkuns as one of the “Fifty Most Beautiful Books”

The Munich-based educational publisher Cornelse-Velhagen & Klasing commissions Hechelmann to illustrate a six-volume literary anthology for secondary schools. The book is initially used in Bavaria and later in other German states.

The commemorative edition of the book “Tristan”, illustrated by Hechelmann and commemorating the 175th anniversary of Bertelsmann publishing, is awarded the first Federal Art Book Prize by the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Bonn.

The film “Ein Weihnachtstraum” is entered in the competition for the Prix Jeunesse, a children’s television award.

Süddeutsche Rundfunk Television in Stuttgart produces the film “Hechelmanns Traumtheater” (Hechelmann’s Dream Theatre). The concept, screenplay, direction, artistic design, sets, figures and music are all by Hechelmann.

Gerhard Konzelmann produces a one-hour film about Friedrich Hechelmann.

The largest exhibition of Hechelmann’s up to that time is held in the Marstall Museum in Kempten, Germany, and is visited by 18,000 people in six weeks.

The painter works on film for ZDF television about his large panel paintings. A large Hechelmann exhibition is held in Osnabrück, Germany.

The painter is invited by the Soviet Cultural Foundation to participate in an exhibition in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) held in the palace of Peter the Great.

The exhibition in St. Petersburg is held and the Hermitage purchases a painting from Hechelmann’s 1982 “Phantastes” set of illustrations.

The Museum Langenargen dedicates its summer exhibition to the works of Hechelmann.

The film “Atlantis liegt im Allgäu” (Atlantis lies in the Allgäu), by Reinhard Echelbeck, a 45-minute film about the painter, is broadcast in ZDF, Arte and 3Sat television.

Friedrich Hechelmann purchases a former locksmith’s building in the town of Weitnau-Hofen, on the border between Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which he has modified and renovated according to his own architectural designs. His gallery manager Joseph Baschnegger opens the new Kunsthalle Schwaben (Swabian Gallery) in October, with a permanent exhibition of Hechelmann’s works, as well as rotating exhibitions of other artists, as well as concerts and literary events.

Hechelmann produces the “Hechelmann’s Mid-Summer Night’s Dream” set of paintings, based on William Shakespeare.

Artistic Design (stage design and costumes) of the Stadtheater Trier’s ballet production of “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream”

ZDF and 3Sat television broadcast a 45-minute film entitled “Der Lichtmaler – Friedrich Hechelmann und die Kunst der Buchillustration” (The Painter of Light – Friedrich Hechelmann and the Art of Book Illustration).

The Ebersbach parish of the Catholic Church commissions Hechelmann to produce a large-format altarpiece painting on the theme “The New Jerusalem” from the gospel of St. John.

The Summer Academy courses with Friedrich Hechelmann attract growing interest. Hechelmann begins instructing at an art academy.

Hechelmann’s plans for a landscape garden become a reality; Bavarian television covers the garden’s development extensively.

The Friedrich Hechelmann and Isny Castle Artistic and Cultural Foundation is established.

Hechelmann draws up plans to transform the central wing of the castle from a hospital to an art gallery.

The art gallery moves from Weitnau-Hofen to Isny Castle.

In a commission for the Ludwigsburg porcelain manufactory, Hechelmann designs a hand-painted tea set entitled “Stunde des Pan” (The Hour of Pan), which includes his first sculptures.

Opening of the castle’s sculpture gallery with the permanent exhibition “Zeit der Götter – Zauber der Form” (Time of the Gods – Magic of Form). The artist donates his Hellenic replicas to the foundation.

For a gazebo in Isny’s pedestrian zone, Hechelmann produces five clay bas-reliefs of illustrations from “Dwarf Nose” against historical backdrops.

Hechelmann receives his largest commission to date. The Pattloch publishing house commissions him to illustrate the Old and New Testaments, continuing the tradition of great art bibles.

ARD Television broadcasts a report about Hechelmann and the castle’s gallery in its programme “Bilderbuch Deutschland” (Picture Book Germany)

Susanne Bausch films the documentary “Friedrich Hechelmann uns seine Bibel“ (Friedrich Hechelmann and His Bible) for SWR television. The film is also broadcast by 3Sat television in 2006.

The garden at the Schiedelhof is publicised in many different television reports and books.

The first comprehensive exhibition of Hechelman’s art prints is held in the Kempten Residenz.

Friedrich Hechelmann plays host to the Bavarian television programme “Künstlergärten” (Artists’ Gardens).

Friedrich Hechelmann shows his Decamerone illustrations in the Färberhaus in Oberstaufen, Germany.

A new edition of the Michael Ende’s classic “Momo“, with original illustrations by Friedrich Hechelmann, is produced for Ende’s 80th birthday. Multiple radio and television programmes report on the work.