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Fifi Colston

Fifi has a richly varied career as a writer, illustrator, wearable arts designer and costume props maker for the film and television industry. Presenting arts and crafts on the children’s television programme What Now, and on TV1’s Good Morning Show for a total of 13 years gave her great skills in art demonstration as well as public speaking. “I love speaking to a wide variety of audiences!”

Fifi’s training was in Visual Communications Design majoring in illustration, and she’s illustrated more than 50 picture books for trade and education. In 2004 she graduated from Victoria University with an MA in Creative Writing and expanded her skills to become a published junior fiction novelist and award-winning nonfiction author. In 2019 she was Otago University College of Education Children’s Writer in Residence.

“26 years of creating garments for the prestigious World of WearableArt™ Awards show, facilitating workshops in creative process and inspirational visits to schools complete my life as a working artist.”

Fifi-low-res

Selected bibliography:

  • The Little Yellow Digger and The Big Ship, written by Peter Gilderdale (Scholastic 2021)
  •  Marvellous Marvin, written by Nadia Lim (Scholastic 2020)
  • The Little Yellow Digger Saves Christmas, written by Peter Gilderdale (Scholastic 2020)
  • Lockdown Sketchmind (Cuba Press 2020)
  • The Last Crayon (Book Hungry Bears, Pukeko Pictures 2019)
  • The Best Stick (Book Hungry Bears, Pukeko Pictures 2019)
  • Grandad’s Guitar, text by Janine McVeigh (Submarine Press)
  • Torty and the Soldier, written by Jennifer Beck (Scholastic 2017)
  • Ghoulish Get Ups (Scholastic 2014)
  • Wearable Wonders (Scholastic 2013)
  • Far, Far From Home, written by Elizabeth Pulford (Scholastic 2012)
  • The Red Poppy, written by David Hill (Scholastic 2012)
  • Glory (Junior Fiction novel, Scholastic 2009)
  • Papa’s Island text by Melanie Drewery (Reed 2006)
  • Itiiti’s Gift text by Melanie Drewery (Reed 2006)
  • Janie Olive: A Recipe for Disaster! (Scholastic 2005).
  • Waka Wairua: The Spirit Waka text by Yvonne Morrison (Reed 2005)
  • Verity’s Truth (Scholastic 2003)
  • Toroa text by Te Aorere Riddell and photographs by Brian Gunson (Huia 2001)
  • Midnight Feast text by Elizabeth Pulford (Scholastic 1996).
  • Get Real Paddy Manson text by Ruth Corrin (HarperCollins 1996)
  • Fifi’s Crafty Arts (Ashton Scholastic 1995).
  • Fifi’s Crafty Arts 2 (Ashton Scholastic 1995).
  • Fifi’s Festive Fun (Ashton Scholastic 1995)
  • Not Without Randolph text by Ruth Corrin (Ashton Scholastic 1993)
  • Mr Magee Came Home for His Tea text by Janet Slater Redhead (Ashton Scholastic 1986)
  • The Oldest Garden in China, text by Anthony Holcroft (Whitcoulls 1985)
  • Old Man and the Cat, text by Anthony Holcroft (Whitcoulls 1984)
  • Rain, text by Barbara Hill (Ashton Scholastic 1984)

Awards:

  • Storylines Notable Book Awards 2006 Junior Fiction List for Janie Olive
  • Storylines Notable Book Awards 2007 Picture Books List for Itiiti’s Gift
  • Storylines Notable Book Awards 2010 Junior Fiction List for Glory
  • Esther Glen Award 2010 Finalist for Glory
  • Storylines Notable Book Award (Picture Books) 2013 for The Red Poppy
  • Finalist New Zealand Post Book Awards 2014 (Non fiction) for Wearable Wonders
  • Winner LIANZA Elsie Locke Award 2014 (Non fiction) for Wearable Wonders
  • Storylines Notable Book Award 2015 (Non fiction) for Ghoulish Get Ups
  • Finalist New Zealand Book Awards 2015 (Non fiction) for Ghoulish Get Ups
  • Finalist Tessa Duder Award 2016 for YA fiction
  • Storylines Notable Book Award 2018 (Picture Books) for Torty and the Soldier
  • Finalist New Zealand Book Awards 2018 (Picture Books) for Torty and the Soldier

Other Resources:

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Storylines Trust Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki and Friends of Storylines Te Pou o Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki together form New Zealand’s only national organisation working year-round to promote New Zealand children’s and young adult literature through activities that include a major national Story Tour to schools, early childhood centres and communities, and awards for writers, illustrators and those who work in the area of New Zealand children’s literature

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