New Zealand Writers

ELLIOT, David

"I've always liked fantasy that has an edge and a darkness to it. It makes images more important and gives them a strength and gravity."

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ELLIOT, David (1952 - ) is an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books.

His evocative illustrations range from the light-hearted moa in gumboots who introduces 100 New Zealand Poems for Children (1999) and the "flying kiwis" in Another 100 New Zealand Poems for Children (2001) to the more sophisticated, almost gothic tones of Sydney and the Seamonster (1999) and Sydney and the Whalebird (2000).

"I've always liked fantasy that has an edge and a darkness to it," says Elliot. "It makes images more important and gives them a strength and gravity."

A graduate of the Christchurch College of Education, Elliot holds a Fine Arts Diploma (Painting) from the University of Canterbury. He has worked for many years as an art teacher, both in schools and in courses for adults.

But it was a stint living in the gatekeeper's cottage at Edinburgh zoo that Elliot describes as the "pivotal experience" which led him to a career in illustration. Wandering the zoo at night, even getting to "scratch the leopard's back," Elliot began drawing the animals, and "playing around on the edges of illustration."

The five picture books written and illustrated by David Elliot are Arthur's Star (1986); Dragon Tangle (1994); Sydney and the Seamonster (1999); Sydney and the Whalebird (2001); and Pigtails the Pirate (2002). For Dragon Tangle Elliot was awarded the Unilever/Choysa Award in 1991, and the book was a finalist for the 1995 Russell Clark Award.

Sydney and the Seamonster won an Honour Award at the 2000 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards and Sydney and the Whalebird was Highly Commended in the 2001 Spectrum Print Book Design Awards in the Best Use of Illustration category.

Elliot has illustrated numerous children's books and stories by other authors, including Arthur and the Dragon (1989) by Pauline Cartwright, for which he won the Russell Clark Illustration Award in 1991.

His illustrations have appeared in numerous exhibitions around New Zealand. Taking advantage of developments in technology, he has provided drawings and the initial concept for an interactive CD ROM. Mungo: the only pirate left (1995) won the International Television Association (ITVA) NZ award for Best Illustration Title in the interactive category.

In 2000 David Elliot was the Dunedin Teacher's College Children's Writer in Residence.

(KC.)

Updated Information

Elliot's latest book is Pigtails the Pirate (2002), the tale of Jess, who sets sail to find her lost father and runs into a problem of truly gigantic proportions. Pigtails the Pirate won the Picture Book Category of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2003. To be able to write and illustrate a picture book calls for particular talent. The judges felt Elliot had proved himself in both. "This is a book that will be pored over and read out loud with pleasure and laughter many times. As an illustrator David is a true craftsman."

Another 30 New Zealand Stories for Children (2002) is edited by Barbara Else, with illustrations by David Elliot. This sequel to 30 New Zealand Stories for Children contains stories that are funny and sad, magical and touching.

Pigtails the Pirate (2002) was shortlisted for the 2003 LIANZA Russell Clark Award.

Writers in Schools

David Elliot is available to speak to school children from age 7 through to secondary school students as part of the Writers in Schools programme. David is happy to discuss the topics of illustration and making stories. He would prefer to speak to groups of 20-30 students. He will run workshops by prior arrangement.

KAPAI

KIDS AUTHORS PICTURES AND INFORMATION

Some Questions for David Elliot

Where do you live?
Port Chalmers, near Dunedin

What books do you read?
All sorts. Lots of non-fiction and historical/natural history stuff - sea stories and, of course, children's picture books.

Who is your favourite author?
It's a dead heat between Margaret Mahy and Mervyn Peake.

How do you think up your ideas?
I just pay attention to things, especially things I read. I find fact is often stranger than fiction. I write down ideas in my notebook, where they often join up with others to make stories.

What is the best thing about being an author?
The research - stories and especially looking for reference material for illustrations can lead you into hidden secrets and intriguing areas that often continue far beyond the original question.

Special Questions for Primary School Students:

What sort of pets do you have?
I did have a lovely old dog - a labrador/bearded collie cross, who was my constant companion and who sadly, recently died.

What is your favourite colour?
My favourite colour is a combination of burnt sienna and olive green.

Do you have a favourite food?
My favourite food is a curry (korma).

A favourite movie?
My favourite movie is 'Blade Runner'.

Do you play any games?
Swimming....is this a game?

What is the most fun thing about being an author?
Researching what I am writing/illustrating about.

How do you make books?
I start off with a storyboard (a big sheet of little drawings) and I stick words and sentences on it with post-its, until I think it's starting to work okay - then I enlarge the drawings on a photocopier, type out the words and make up a 'dummy' book. If that works okay and I can find a publisher, then I start on the final artwork.

Where do you go for your holidays?
It depends - sometimes Nelson, sometimes Australia, sometimes Oamaru, Fairlie or the Catlins.

What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I was never naughty at school, I was the perfect student in every way and I think I deserve a medal (don't believe what my sister might tell you about setting fire to the creek).

Questions for Secondary School Students:

How did you get started?
I trained as an artist at Art School, then when I was travelling in Britain, I was fortunate to get a job in a zoo - with time to draw and think. I started taking my work to show publishers (in London) - listened to their advice - by the time I got back to New Zealand I had a story ready to show a New Zealand publisher, that was luckily accepted.

Who inspired you when you were getting started?
I got some good advice from some publishers, but I think it was just looking at other artists in great children's books. The more I decided that children's books were my thing, the more they inspired me.

What advice would you give an aspiring young writer?
Get a diary and regularly write down your ideas - get used to taking your imagination seriously - and be patient with it. Read authors you admire and work out why.

Is it difficult to make a living writing in New Zealand?
Yes. We have such a small population buying books - in fact, we are lucky so many people in New Zealand read and buy books!

What were you like as a teenager?
Pretty average, I think. I liked sport and did okay at it - swimming and rugby. I really liked English and drawing - but was pretty slack at a few other subjects. I was lucky that I had one teacher who taught me I was a visual learner - that helped.

Do you have any other stories you’d like to tell us?
Well, I worked in Antarctica for five months, washing dishes for the American base at McMurdo, but got several trips to look at weddell seals and killer whales. I was also gateman at Edinburgh Zoo, in Scotland, for three years. I had a beaut little stone cottage above the main gate to live in and, when the zoo closed, I could walk around the zoo all night if I wanted to - and often did. It was a great place to do drawings and imagine stories.