Gavin Bishop

Gavin John Bishop 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

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
2024 – Titiro Look, 36pp
2021 – Atua: Māori gods and heroes, 64pp
2020 – Mihi, 18pp,
2018 – Cook's Cook Limited Edition, 40pp,
2018 – Cook's Cook, 40pp,
2017 – Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story
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
2010 – Cowshed Christmas
2010 – There Was a Crooked Man
2009 – Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood
2008 – Rats!
2008 – Snake & Lizard, Gecko Press
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,