Gavin John Bishop (born 1946) is an author and illustrator, from

Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...

, New Zealand. He is known for illustrating books from prominent New Zealand authors, including

Joy Cowley Cassia Joy Cowley (; born 7 August 1936) is a New Zealand author best known for her children's fiction, including the popular series of books Mrs. Wishy-Washy. Cowley started out writing novels for adults, and her first book, ''Nest in a Fal ...

and

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 ...

. Bishop's first published picture book was ''Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant'', published in 1981 by

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

Early life

Bishop was born in

Career

Bishop worked as a high school art teacher for thirty years, before writing and illustrating children's books full-time. In 2006, he accused the makers of the Hollywood film '' Mr and Mrs Smith'' of plagiarizing his 1997 school book ''The Secret Lives of Mr and Mrs Smith''.

Select honours and awards

*2018 – Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award for ''Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story'' at the New Zealand Children's Book Awards *2013 – Officer of the

New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ren ...

, for services to Children's Literature. *2013 – Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award *2013, 2000, 1994, 1983 –

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 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 Governme ...

, winner of the picture book category. *2010, 2008, 2006, 1982 – LIANZA Russell Clark Medal for Illustration. *2000 – Margaret Mahy Medal for Services to Children's Literature. *1984 –

Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations The Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations (Japanese: 野間国際絵本原画コンクール) was organised by Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) supported by the Noma International Book Development Fund from 1978 to 2008. It was ...

, Grand Prize.

Select bibliography

*2020 – ''Mihi'', 18pp, (

Gecko Press Gecko Press is an independent publisher of children's books based in Wellington, New Zealand. The company was founded in 2005 by Julia Marshall, formerly of Appelberg Publishing Agency, winner of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal 2021. Gecko ...

) *2018 – ''Cook's Cook Limited Edition'', 40pp, (

) *2018 – ''Cook's Cook'', 40pp, (

) *2017 – ''Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story'' ( Penguin) *2017 – ''Helper and Helper'', 128pp, (

) *2013 – ''Mister Whistler'', 32pp, (

) *2012 – ''Koinei te Whare nā Haki i Hanga'', 40pp, Māori translation of ''The House that Jack Built'' (

) *2012 – ''The House that Jack Built'', 40pp, (

) *2010 – ''Counting the Stars: Four Maori Myths'' *2010 – ''Friends: Snake & Lizard, Joy Cowley, Gecko Press (illustrator)'' *2010 – ''Cowshed Christmas (illustrator)'' *2010 – ''There Was a Crooked Man'' *2009 – ''Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood'' *2008 – ''Rats!'' *2008 – ''Snake & Lizard, Gecko Press (illustrator)'' *2007 – ''Riding the Waves: four Maori Myths'' *2006 – ''Te Waka'' *2006 – ''Kiwi Moon'' *2005 – ''Taming the Sun: Four Maori Myths'' *2004 – ''The Three Billy Goats Gruff'' *2002 – ''Tom Thumb'' *1982 – ''Mr. Fox'', 32pp, (

)

References

External links