Discover the story of New Zealand through this multiple-award-winning, richly illustrated visual history by Gavin Bishop.
Gavin Bishop is a highly acclaimed children's book author
and illustrator of more than 60 books, whose work ranges from
original stories to retellings of Maori myths, European fairy
stories, and nursery rhymes.
Born in Invercargill, he spent his childhood in the remote railway
settlement of Kingston on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Studying
under Russell Clark and Rudi Gopas, Gavin graduated from the
Canterbury University School of Fine Arts with an honours degree in
painting. He taught art at Linwood High School and at Christ's
College in Christchurch.
Among the numerous fellowships and national book prizes that have
been awarded to Gavin throughout his career, highlights are his Te
Waka Toi Nga Tohu a Ta Kingi Ihaka/Sir Kingi Ihaka Award in 2018,
recognising his lifetime contribution to strengthening Maori art
and culture through his children's books; The Arts Foundation's
Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award in 2013; and the 2000
Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for lifetime achievement and his
distinguished contribution to children's literature in New Zealand.
Gavin was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in
2013, and President of Honour of the NZ Society of Authors.
In 2018, his book Aotearoa- The New Zealand Story won the
supreme Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award and the Elsie Locke
Award for Non-fiction at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children
and Young Adults. The judges praised it as being 'masterful in its
execution - a work of art that bears repeated and thoughtful
viewing and reading of its vibrant and informative illustrations.
It is also a book of enduring significance in the canon of New
Zealand children's literature - a landmark title which will stand
the test of time.' That same year, Aotearoa won a Storylines
Notable Non-Fiction Award and Best Children's Book at the PANZ
Design Awards.
In 2003 Weaving Earth and Sky won the non-fiction section
and the Book of the Year Award of the NZ Post Children's Book
Awards and was shortlisted for the LIANZA Elsie Locke Medal. Gavin
has won the LIANZA Russell Clark Medal for Illustration four times-
Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant (1981); Kiwi Moon
(2006); Rats! (2008); and There was a Crooked Man
(2010). The judges of the 2006 Russell Clark Award said, 'Kiwi
Moon has all the appeal and promise of a future folktale
classic. It is an outstanding example of how text and illustrations
can be interwoven to produce a marvellous whole.'
Among his successful partnerships has been that with writer Joy
Cowley, with whom he won the Best in Junior Fiction and Book of the
Year at the 2008 NZ Post Children's Book Awards for Friends-
Snake and Lizard.
Other award-winning titles include- Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre
Plant (Russell Clark Medal 1981); The Year of the
Yelvertons (illustrator; the 1981 Esther Glen Medal); Mr
Fox (Noma Concours 1984 Grand Prize); Hinepau (New
Zealand Picture Book of the Year 1993); The House that Jack
Built (Book of the Year and Best Picture Book at the 2000 NZ
Post Book Awards); Friends- Snake and Lizard (with Joy
Cowley, Children's Choice Junior Fiction, 2010 NZ Post Children's
Book Awards); and Mister Whistler (written by Margaret Mahy,
winning Best Picture Book at the 2013 NZ Post Children's Book
Awards).
Books that have been shortlisted for the NZ Post Children's Book
Awards include- Stay Awake, Bear! in 2000; Tom Thumb
in 2001 (picture book category); Taming the Sun in 2005
(also a finalist for the Russell Clark Award in 2005); Riding
the Waves in 2007; Rats! in 2008; Piano Rock in
2009 (which won the 2009 PANZ Book Design Award in the children's
category); and Cowshed Christmas in 2010.
Many of Gavin's works have been listed as Storylines Notable Books,
most recently Aotearoa- The New Zealand Story in 2018; also
Tom Thumb (2002); The Three Billy Goats Gruff (2004);
Taming the Sun- Four Maori Myths (2005); Kiwi Moon
(2006); The Waka (2006); Te Waka (2006); Riding
the Waves- Four Maori Myths (2007); Snake & Lizard
(2008); Rats! (2008); Piano Rock- A 1950s Childhood
(2009); There Was a Crooked Man (2010); Cowshed
Christmas (2010); Friends- Snake & Lizard (2010);
Counting the Stars- Four Maori Myths (2010); and Teddy
One Eye- The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear (2015).
Gavin's artwork has featured in exhibitions internationally,
including Japan and Czechoslovakia. He has written and designed two
ballets for the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company- Terrible
Tom and Te Maia and the Sea Devil. In 2003 he shared the
Ursula Bethell Residency with Catherine Chidgey.
The Storylines Gavin Bishop Award for Picture Book Illustration was
established in 2009 to encourage emergent illustrators and to
acknowledge Gavin's contribution to the writing and illustrating of
children's picture books.
Gavin lives and works in Christchurch, New Zealand. See more about
him and his work at www.gavinbishop.com.
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