David Elliot is a New Zealand

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

and author, known internationally for his contributions to the '' Redwall'' fantasy series by British author, Brian Jacques.

Biography

Elliot was born in 1952 in Ashburton, New Zealand. He has a fine arts diploma in painting, from the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was ...

, in Christchurch, and is also a qualified school teacher. He lives in Port Chalmers, Dunedin.

Publications

Elliot illustrated six '' Redwall'' books, as well as the Mossflower Anniversary Edition (with full-page illustrations), all written by UK author Brian Jacques. He also illustrated the second and third volumes of Jacques' '' Castaways of the Flying Dutchman'' series and American author,

T. A. Barron Thomas Archibald Barron (born March 26, 1952) is an American writer of fantasy literature, books for children and young adults, and nature books. Biography Barron spent his early childhood in Harvard, Massachusetts, a town full of apple orcha ...

's ''Great Tree of Avalon'' series, beginning with ''

Child of the Dark Prophecy ''The Great Tree of Avalon'' is a fantasy novel by T. A. Barron, published by Penguin Young Readers Group. The book is the ninth novel in the 12-book series known as Merlin Saga. It was originally published as ''The Great Tree of Avalon: Child ...

''. Other international collaborations include providing illustrations for '' Time'' magazine editor Jeffrey Kluger's first book for children, ''Nacky Patcher and the Curse of the Dry-Land Boats '' (2007), three books in the '' Ranger's Apprentice'' series, by

John Flanagan John Flanagan or Jack Flanagan may refer to: Sportspeople * Jack Flanagan (footballer) (1902–1989), English footballer * John Flanagan (hammer thrower) (1868–1938), Irish-American three-time Olympic champion in athletics * John Flanagan (Limeri ...

(2011, 2014) and two books in the ''Nethergrim'' series, by Matthew Jobin (2014, 2017). Elliot also provided the map and interior illustration for

Jonathan W. Stokes Jonathan Witte Stokes is a film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is also an entrepreneur who created ValueWiki which was acquired by Wikia in 2010. Education Stokes graduated from the Weston High School and majored in Philosophy at t ...

' book, ''Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas'' (2016). Elliot has written and illustrated eight picture books of his own, including ''Henry's Map'' which was chosen by the School Library Journal for its Best Books in 2013 and ''Pigtails the Pirate'' which won the Picturebook category of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2003. Other New Zealand publications include illustrations for Janet Frame's only book for children, ''Mona Minim and the Smell of the Sun'' and also ''The Smell of Powder'', a book on New Zealand dueling, by Dr. Donald Kerr, both published in 2006. Elliot has also illustrated for Joy Cowley,

Jack Lasenby John Millen Lasenby (9 March 1931 – 27 September 2019), commonly known as Jack Lasenby, was a New Zealand writer. He wrote over 30 books for children and young adults, many of which were shortlisted for or won prizes. He was also the recipient ...

and other New Zealand writers, poets and short story writers. As a great admirer of Lewis Carroll Elliot also produced illustrations for '' The Hunting of the Snark'' (Private Press edition, with the University of Otago in Dunedin, 2006). Elliot has also collaborated on two books with New Zealand's best loved children's writer and winner of the

Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...

Margaret Mahy Margaret Mahy (21 March 1936 – 23 July 2012) was a New Zealand author of children's and young adult books. Many of her story plots have strong supernatural elements but her writing concentrates on the themes of human relationships and growi ...

, ''The Word Witch'' and ''The Moon and Farmer McPhee'', which won the award for the best children's book in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2011. More recently, Elliot wrote and illustrated ''Snark: being a true history of the expedition that discovered the Snark and the Jabberwock…and its tragic aftermath'' (after Lewis Carroll), published by Otago University Press (2016). The book won Best Book and Best Illustrations in the

New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are a series of literary awards presented annually to recognise excellence in children and young adult's literature in New Zealand. The awards began in 1982 as the New Zealand Governm ...

in 2017. and also a

White Raven Award White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

. His latest picture book is ''Oink'' ( Gecko Press, 2018) and in 2019 he illustrated

Tessa Duder Tessa Duder (née Staveley, born 13 November 1940) is a New Zealand author of novels for young people, short stories, plays and non-fiction, and a former swimmer who won a silver medal for her country at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth ...

's ''First Map: How James Cook Chartered Aotearoa New Zealand''.

Recent activities and awards

* 2011 Winner of the New Zealand Post Book Awards - Best Children's Book (together with Margaret Mahy) for ''The Moon and Farmer McPhee'' * 2011 Inaugural Mallinson Rendel Award, to be awarded to New Zealand children's book illustrators every other year * 2012

IBBY The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is an international non-profit organization committed to bringing books and children together. The headquarters of the IBBY are located in Basel, Switzerland. IBBY history In 1952, Jella Lepm ...

(International Board on Books for Young People) Honour List 2012 for ''The Moon and Farmer McPhee'' * 2013 School Library Journal (USA) Best Books List for ''Henry's Map'' * 2014

(International Board on Books for Young People) Honour List for ''The Word Witch'' * 2014 Storylines

Margaret Mahy Award The Margaret Mahy Award, officially the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award, is a New Zealand literary prize presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to children's literature, publishing or literacy. Presented ann ...

. Award given annually for lifetime achievement in children's writing and illustration * 2017 Winner of

for ''Snark'' * 2017 Winner of the

- Margaret Mahy Book of the Year for ''Snark'' * 2017 Winner of the

- Russell Clark Award for Illustration for ''Snark''

References

External links

*
Arts Foundations of New Zealand WebsiteNew Zealand Book Council Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliot, David 1952 births Living people University of Canterbury alumni New Zealand artists People from Port Chalmers People from Ashburton, New Zealand New Zealand writers