Gavin Bishop

Gavin John Bishop (born 1946) is an author and illustrator, from Invercargill, New Zealand. He is known for illustrating books from prominent New Zealand authors, including Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy.

Early life Bishop was born on 13 February 1946 in Invercargill, to a Tainui and Ngāti Awa family.

Career Bishop worked as a high school art teacher for thirty years, before writing and illustrating children's books full-time.

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

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.

Hundreds of artworks by Bishop were purchased by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in a deal announced in 2025.

Select honours and awards 2026 - Finalist for Elsie Locke Award for non-fiction for Taniwha at the 2026 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. 2022 – Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, the Nonfiction and Illustration awards for Atua 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, for services to Children's Literature. 2013 – Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award 2013, 2000, 1994, 1983 – New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, 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, Grand Prize.

Select bibliography 2025 - Taniwha, 64pp (Penguin) 2024 – Titiro Look, 36pp (Gecko Press) 2021 – Atua: Māori gods and heroes, 64pp (Picture Puffin) 2020 – Mihi, 18pp, (Gecko Press) 2018 – Cook's Cook Limited Edition, 40pp, (Gecko Press) 2018 – Cook's Cook, 40pp, (Gecko Press) 2017 – Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story (Penguin) 2017 – Helper and Helper, 128pp, (Gecko Press) 2013 – Mister Whistler, 32pp, (Gecko Press) 2012 – Koinei te Whare nā Haki i Hanga, 40pp, Māori translation of The House that Jack Built (Gecko Press) 2012 – The House that Jack Built, 40pp, (Gecko Press) 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, (Oxford University Press)

Gavin Bishop

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