Biographical Details

David graduated with a Fine Arts Diploma from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand in 1976. He spent several years working as a designer before travelling, first to Antarctica and South East Asia, then on to the UK, where he lived and worked at Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland for three years. He returned to the South Island of New Zealand in 1986, to study to be a secondary school teacher, then worked as a full-time art teacher (and part-time illustrator/writer) for ten years. In 1997, David began full-time illustrating and writing books for children, although he continues to teach painting and drawing to adults part-time.

David has won several national awards and in 2000 was made Writer in Residence at the Dunedin College of Education. His work has been exhibited around the country.

David is a member of the New Zealand Book Council's Writers in Schools scheme and he is a regular participant in book festivals and workshops around New Zealand.

He is married and has two daughters.

David Elliot's Thoughts on Drawing

I love drawing!

Through it my imagination materialises before me and continues to sprout ideas as I draw. Things grow out of the paper, characters, places, situations take on lives of their own and it often becomes a race to nail them down, before they wander off, or meander into untieable knots....

I have found, through experience, that the best nail is a good story, something that pins them, squealing and squirming though they may be, firmly to the plot. It is then just a matter of helping them be what they want to be, to the best of my ability.

I hope that what I am able to find in the paper reflects the enjoyment I have had in the search.

David Elliot on Illustrating Triss

Working with Brian's images is a great privilege. He creates such wonderful scenes and creative characters, it is both challenging and exciting to try and give them the integrity they deserve.

This challenge is particularly strong in Triss since the story deals with two of my great passions. I have always loved drawing animals and Brian has given me the chance to step back into a much treasured time I spent in Edinburgh, fascinated with the wildlife of the British countryside. My other passion, the sea, is my constant companion here on the southern coast of New Zealand. It has been wonderful to be able to set sail in my imagination and ride the waves with the Stopdog and Sea Scab.

Publication Details

David's first book, Arthur's Star was published in 1986, by Whitcoulls, New Zealand. Both this and his next book Dragon Tangle: 1994 (Ashton Scholastic, N.Z.) were well received. Dragon Tangle was shortlisted for the 1995 Russell Clark Illustration Award and was also published in Australia, the U.K. and North America. However, it was only after giving up the joint committments of both illustrating and teaching, in 1997, that David was able to build upon this earlier success.

In 1999 he established a relationship with publishers Random House New Zealand to produce the first of his next three picturebooks:

• Sydney and the Seamonster: 1999 (which won an Honour Award in the 2000 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards)
• Sydney and the Whalebird: 2000
• Pigtails the Pirate: 2002

In 2001, David provided illustrations for Triss, the latest book in the Redwall series, which is to be published in 2002 by Philomel Books, New York.

In addition to writing and illustrating five picturebooks, David has worked on a range of children's publications including providing illustrations for: picture books; chapter books; school readers; book covers; collections of poetry; collections of short stories and a CD ROM.

List of Publications 1986-

PICTURE BOOKS (written and illustrated)
Pigtails the Pirate: Random House, New Zealand, 2002
Sydney and the Whalebird: Random House, N.Z. 2001
Sydney and the Seamonster: Random House, N.Z. 1999
Dragon Tangle: Ashton Scholastic, N.Z. 1994
Arthur's Star: Whitcoulls, N.Z. 1986

COVER ILLUSTRATIONS for trilogy by New Zealand author, Jack Lasenby
The Battle of Pook Island: John McIndoe, N.Z. 1996
The Waterfall: Longacre Press, N.Z. 1995
Dead Mans Head: John McIndoe, N.Z. 1994

ILLUSTRATIONS
Triss by Brian Jacques (Redwall series) to be published in 2002 by Philomel Books, N.Y.
Another 100 New Zealand Poems for Children: Random House, N.Z. 2001
30 New Zealand Stories for Children: Random House, N.Z. 2000
100 New Zealand Poems for Children: Random House, N.Z. 1999
Annie and Rufus by Pauline Cartwright: Bridgehill Publishing, N.Z. 1999
Mungo: the only pirate left (CD ROM), orig. concepts and illus: Cardinal, N.Z. 1995
Arthur and the Dragon by Pauline Cartwright: Nelson Price Milburn, N.Z. 1989

ILLUSTRATIONS for educational publications: Cooped Up by Feana Tu'akoi: Learning Media, N.Z. 2001
Stumpy's Secret by Mandy Hager: Learning Media, N.Z. 2000
The Boy Who Flew Too High from Mythical Places: Shortland Pubs, N.Z. 1999
A Close Call by Anna Kenna: Learning Media, N.Z. 1998
The Bad Dad List by Anna Kenna: Learning Media, N.Z. 1998
The Curse of Being Pharaoh by Janice Marriott: Learning Media, N.Z. 1998
Stories and poems in 19 issues of The School Journal and 2 issues of The Junior Journal: The New Zealand Department of Education 1988 - 94
Occasional illustrations for Milford; Manapouri; Te Anau by Brailsford & Mitchell: Footprint Press, N. Z.1986 - 88

National Awards for Illustration

• Highly commended award - Best use of illustration - Spectrum Print Book Design Awards (in association with the Book Publishers Association of New Zealand) for Sydney and the Whalebird: Random House, N.Z.: 2001
• Honour award - New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards for Sydney and the Seamonster: Random House, N.Z.: 2000
• Best Illustration Title in ‘Interactive Category - International TV Association New Zealand (provided initial concept and drawings to Vidmark) for the CD ROM Mungo: the only pirate left Cardinal Professional Services, N.Z.: 1995
• Finalist Russell Clark Illustration Award - New Zealand Library and Information Association’ for Dragon Tangle: Ashton Scholastic N.Z.: 1995
• Bursary Award for Illustration - QE II Arts Council/Unilever/Choysa Award, N.Z. for Dragon Tangle: Ashton Scholastic N.Z: 1995
• Winner Russell Clark Illustration Award - NZLIA for Arthur and the Dragon Nelson Price Milburn N.Z.: 1989




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