Bruce Potter is an international award-winning illustrator of more than 125 books. He has illustrated for some of New Zealand’s best known authors including Craig Smith, Joy Cowley and Witi Ihimaera. He is a director at Draconis Books, having published three picture books (including one written by Joy Cowley), two adult colouring books and a novel. He is also a director at Waiata Theatre Productions which produced ‘The Mikado’. Bruce was the director, musical director and producer of this show as well as performing as Nanki Poo and The Mikado.

Bruce gained second place in The World’s Best Illustration at the 2007 Gourmande World Cookbook Awards for Papa’s Donuts.

Storylines’ Out of the Deep anthology, illustrated by Bruce, was selected for the White Ravens Book List 2008.

Bruce is known for his realistic style and fine detail but he also has a background in cartooning and caricature for a number of newspapers around the world. He has worked for many years as an art teacher in adult education and as a fine artist. He mainly exhibits through the Wanaka Fine Art Gallery. He has also played leading roles in musicals such as ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Chess’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, most notably in ‘Les Miserables’ where he has played the role of Valjean three times, doing 56 performances.

Bruce was also an internationally ranked powerlifter, winning the bronze medal at the 2009 World Masters Bench Press Championships. He is a former New Zealand bench press champion and holds the world record in the two-man deadlift with the International All Round Weightlifting Association. He is a Third Dan Black Belt in karate. He currently runs a Shotokan Karate Dojo in Alexandra where he lives very happily with his wife and three adult children. Bruce tours schools around New Zealand doing his one-man show which encourages children to foster and develop their own imaginations through the art of doodling. He has performed this show more than 600 times to over 300 schools.