Since the age of eleven, Claude De Ribaupierre (Derib) has drawn the human body and its skeleton structure. Therefore, he was soon familiar with the human anatomy. After having a job as a horseback riding instructor, Derib went to Brussels to start a career in comics. He got a job at Studio Peyo, where he worked on several stories with 'Les Schtroumpfs' ('The Smurfs'), that were published in Spirou. He also produced some 'Belles Histoires de l'Oncle Paul', as well as his first realistic series, 'Arnoud de Casteloup' (1966).

In 1967, he teamed up with Maurice Rosy to start the series about the talking dog 'Attila' in Spirou. That same year, he created the joking owl 'Pyhagore' with Job in Le Crapaud à Lunettes. For that same magazine, Derib and Job also created the little Indian 'Yakari', Derib's first hit series. From 1978, 'Yakari' appeared in Tintin. Derib had joined that magazine in 1970, when he began making western comics written by Michel Greg, such as 'Go West'. Derib subsequently created the famous 'Buddy Longway' series on his own in 1972, which he continued until 1987, and then restarted in 2002. 'Buddy Longway' was unique when it first appeared. Derib let his hero age, and have emotions, doubts and flaws, which was unusual at the time in European comics.

In addition to Tintin, Derib collaborated on Achille Tallon magazine, where he drew 'Les Ahlalàààs' (text by Greg). In 1981 appeared 'Celui-qui-est-né-deux-fois' ('He who was born twice'), a western that can be considered Derib's masterpiece.

In the 1980s, Derib began making more substantial and socially-motivated comics. In 1981, he created 'Jo', the first comic book on AIDS ever published.

Best known for his humanistic comics and his several western projects, Derib stands as one of the major artists of European comics.