Martin Baynton is a British author, illustrator, and TV producer now living in New Zealand. His children's book

Jane and the Dragon ''Jane and the Dragon'' is a series of children's books written and illustrated by Martin Baynton. The original trilogy consists of ''Jane and the Dragon'' (1988), ''The Dragon's Purpose'' (1989), and ''Jane and the Magician'' (2000). In 200 ...

(1988), has become a modern classic which has since been adapted for television and produced by Weta Workshop and Nelvana. His books have been widely published in the UK, US, Spain, France, New Zealand and Australia. Baynton has also illustrated books by other leading writers including

Russell Hoban Russell Conwell Hoban (February 4, 1925 – December 13, 2011) was an American writer. His works span many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in London fro ...

and

Kenneth Grahame Kenneth Grahame ( ; 8 March 1859 – 6 July 1932) was a British writer. He is best remembered for the classic of children's literature ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1908). Born in Scotland, he spent most of his childhood with his grandmother in ...

. In addition to writing and illustrating children's books, Baynton has been a producer, writer and director for the stage, TV and radio. He is the creator of three internationally acclaimed pre-school shows: The WotWots, the Kiddets and The Book Hungry Bears. In 2002 he teamed up with Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop to create and produce children's television. They created the award-winning ''Jane and the Dragon'' (based on Baynton's book series of the same name.) Baynton and Taylor are founding partners and owners of Pukeko Pictures a New Zealand-based IP development company creating children and family entertainment properties. In 2022, Baynton released the first book in his Taking Wonderland series, a trilogy of fantasy novels about a modern Alice decoding the original Victorian books.

Early life

Born in Wandsworth, London in 1953, the second of three children his childhood and schooling was spent in London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Herefordshire. Educated at Holtspur Primary School, Hereford Cathedral Prep School, Ledbury Grammar School, Hereford College of Art, the Institute Of Child Health, London University and

Great Ormond Street Hospital Great Ormond Street Hospital (informally GOSH, formerly the Hospital for Sick Children) is a children's hospital located in the Bloomsbury area of the London Borough of Camden, and a part of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS F ...

. Before focusing on a career in children's books, he qualified as an electrophysiologist and worked at

St Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by ...

in the medical electronics unit where he helped to develop

biofeedback Biofeedback is the technique of gaining greater awareness of many physiology, physiological functions of one's own body by using Electronics, electronic or other instruments, and with a goal of being able to Manipulation (psychology), manipulate ...

technology with the biofeedback pioneer Dr Ann Wooley-Hart. Martin travelled extensively in the 1970's hitch hiking through North and Central America, Europe and the Middle East. He was an activist in the anti-nuclear movement in the UK and an early member of

Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by a group of Environmental movement, environmental activists. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its biod ...

and

Friends of the Earth Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) is an international network of grassroots environmental organizations in 73 countries. About half of the member groups call themselves "Friends of the Earth" in their own languages; the others use other ...

. Baynton moved to New Zealand in 1987 with his wife Diane and his children, Theo and Terri.

Bibliography

Martin is a writer and illustrator of many books, and anthologies.

References

External links

Meet Martin Baynton
1953 births Living people English children's writers 20th-century English novelists 21st-century English novelists English illustrators British expatriates in New Zealand People educated at Hereford Cathedral School English male novelists 20th-century English male writers 21st-century English male writers {{UK-child-writer-stub