Bob Kerr (author and artist)

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Bob Kerr in 2004

Bob Kerr (born 1951)[1] is an author, illustrator and artist based in Wellington, New Zealand.[2][3][4] He writes and illustrates children’s books and has won several awards for his work.[1] He lives and works in Wellington, New Zealand.

Biography[edit]

Bob Kerr was born in 1951 in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in Tokoroa and graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts (Hons) in 1974 from the University of Auckland.[2] In 1973 he was an editor of Craccum (the Auckland University Students' Association weekly magazine) along with collaborator Stephen Ballantyne, with whom he went on to create Terry and the Gunrunners,[5] which has been adapted for television twice. The first series was released in 1985 and is hosted in full on NZ On Screen.[6] The 2016 series[7] was "a darker, edgier, more mature reboot of the show".[8] The comic was re-issued in 2015.[9][10]

He was a judge of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2005 and 2012; in 2005 he was the convener of the panel.[2]

Many of his stories have appeared in the New Zealand School Journal.[11] He was included in the book A Nest of Singing Birds: 100 Years of the New Zealand School Journal.[12]

Painting[edit]

Kerr's paintings are often based on historical events.[4] His work has featured the stories of conscientious objectors,[13] scientists,[14] the New Zealand Wars,[15] the 1916 police invasion of Maungapohatu,[5] a New Zealand soldier's experiences during the Gallipoli campaign,[16] and the Waihi miners' strike of 1912.[17] His best-known work appears on the cover of Michael King's book The Penguin History of New Zealand (2003).[18]

Select bibliography[edit]

  • Lucy’s Big Plan, text by Christine Harris (Collins 1977).
  • Lucy Loops the Loop, text by Oz Kraus (Collins 1979)
  • Terry and the Gunrunners, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Collins 1982)
  • Terry and the Yodelling Bull, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Finlayson Hill 1986)
  • Terry and the Last Moa, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Hodder & Stoughton 1990)
  • For a Living, co-edited with Linda Mitchell (Working Life Publications 1991)
  • The Optimist (Mallinson Rendel 1992)
  • The Day of the Rain, text by Joy Cowley (Mallinson Rendel 1993)
  • The Day of the Snow, text by Joy Cowley (Mallinson Rendel 1994)
  • The Paper War (Mallinson Rendel 1994)
  • Mechanical Harry (Mallinson Rendel 1996)
  • Strange Tales from the Mall (Mallinson Rendel 1998)
  • Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle (Mallinson Rendel 1999)
  • After the War (Mallinson Rendel 2000)
  • Field punishment No.1., text by David Grant with paintings by Bob Kerr (Steele Roberts, 2008)
  • Waiheathens. Voices from a Mining Town, text by Mark Derby with paintings by Bob Kerr (Atuanui Press, 2013)
  • Best Mates, text by Philippa Werry (New Holland Publishers, 2014)
  • Changing Times, The Story of a New Zealand Town and its Newspaper (Potton and Burton 2015)

Awards and prizes[edit]

  • 1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Best First Book for The Optimist.
  • 1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for The Optimist.
  • 1994 AIM Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for The Day of the Rain.
  • 1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Children’s Choice Winner for Mechanical Harry.
  • 1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for Mechanical Harry.
  • 1999 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for Strange Tales from the Mall.
  • 2000 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle.
  • 2001 Russell Clark Award Winner for After the War.
  • 2001 Esther Glen Award Shortlist for After the War.
  • 2001 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for After the War.
  • 2001 PANZ Book Design Awards Best Use of Illustration Winner for After the War.
  • 2001 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for After the War.
  • 2016 Storylines Notable Book Award (Picture Book) for Changing Times: The Story of a New Zealand Town and its Newspaper.
  • 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award for Changing Times.
  • 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Changing Times.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "| New Zealand Book Council". www.bookcouncil.org.nz.
  2. ^ a b c "Bob Kerr – New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa".
  3. ^ "Interview with Bob Kerr". my.christchurchcitylibraries.com.
  4. ^ a b "Bob Kerr". whitespace.
  5. ^ a b Dann, Jennifer (July 11, 2016). "'We were just naive goofs' - Bob Kerr explains how Terry Teo was born" – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  6. ^ Screen, NZ On. "Terry and the Gunrunners | Series | Television | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com.
  7. ^ "Terry Teo" – via www.imdb.com.
  8. ^ chris.schulz@nzherald.co.nz @chris__schulz, Chris Schulz (July 8, 2016). "Terry Teo: Why the '80s Kiwi icon is all grown up" – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  9. ^ "School Library Details | New Zealand Book Council". www.bookcouncil.org.nz.
  10. ^ "Book review: Terry Teo and the Gunrunners, by Stephen Ballantyne and Bob Kerr". November 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "Bob Kerr". www.storylines.org.nz.
  12. ^ Books, N. Z. (March 1, 2008). "Still in tune, Brent Southgate". New Zealand Review of Books Pukapuka Aotearoa.
  13. ^ Kerr, Bob; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Field punishment no. 1". teara.govt.nz.
  14. ^ "Harold Wellman, who moved the Southern Alps". Pundit.
  15. ^ "Studio Visit with Bob Kerr - Friends of Te Papa".
  16. ^ "Artist followed in soldier's footsteps". April 23, 2015 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
  17. ^ "Gold Strike - Paintings by Bob Kerr » Waihi Arts Centre & Museum". www.waihimuseum.co.nz.
  18. ^ "The Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King". www.penguin.co.nz.

External links[edit]

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