David Elliot (illustrator)
[{Other people2|David Elliott (disambiguation)}}
International publications
David Elliot is a New Zealand illustrator, known internationally for his contributions to the Redwall fantasy series by British author, Brian Jacques. He illustrated six Redwall books, as well as the Mossflower Anniversary Edition (with full-page illustrations). He also illustrated the second and third volumes of Jacques' Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series and American author, T. A. Barron's The Great Tree of Avalon series, beginning with Child of the Dark Prophecy. Other international collaborations include providing illustrations for Time Magazine editor Jeffrey Kluger's first book for children, Nacky Patcher and the Curse of the Dry Land Boats" (2007) and also illustrations for two books in the Ranger's Apprentice series, by John Flanagan (2011).
New Zealand publications
David has written and illustrated five picture books of his own, including Pigtails the Pirate which won the Picturebook category of the New Zealand Post Book Awards in 2003. Other New Zealand publications include illustrations for Janet Frame's only book for children, Mona Minim and the Smell of the Sun and also The Smell of Powder, a book on New Zealand dueling, by Dr. Donald Kerr, both published in 2006. David has also illustrated for Joy Cowley, Jack Lasenby and other New Zealand writers, poets and short story writers. As a great admirer of Lewis Carroll David also produced illustrations for The Hunting of the Snark (Private Press edition, with the University of Otago in Dunedin).
David's most recent projects have included two collaborations with New Zealand's best loved children's writer and winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, Margaret Mahy, The Word Witch and The Moon and Farmer McPhee, which won the award for the best children's book in 2011 in the New Zealand Post Book Awards.
Recent activities and awards
2011 was a good year for David. Together with Margaret Mahy, he won best children's book in the New Zealand Post Book Awards. David was also nominated to represent New Zealand illustration at IBBY 2012 and, closer to home, he was awarded the inaugural Mallinson Rendel Award, to be awarded to children's book illustrators every other year.
David is currently working with Philomel Publishers, part of Penguin Books in New York, on a picture book for young children.
Biography
Elliot was born in 1952, in Ashburton, in the South Island of New Zealand. He has a Fine Arts Diploma in painting, from the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, and is also a qualified school teacher. He lives in Port Chalmers, Dunedin.