Fifi Colston

Last updated

Fifi Colston
Born (1960-07-05) 5 July 1960 (age 63)
York, England
Occupation(s)Artist
Author
Television presenter
Notable credit Good Morning

Fifi Colston (born 5 July 1960) is a writer, illustrator, poet, wearable arts designer, costume and props maker for the film industry and television presenter. She has written or illustrated over 30 books and is also a veteran entrant, finalist and winner in the World of Wearable Art Competition. She lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

Contents

Biography

Fifi (Fiona) Colston was born in 1960 in York, England. [1] She emigrated to New Zealand by ship with her family in 1968. [2] [3] Her favourite subject at school was art, and even as a small child, she used to copy out illustrations from her most loved book, The Silver Thimble Story Book. [1]

She completed a Diploma of Visual Communications Design 1980 at Wellington Polytechnic Design School. [4] She then moved to Christchurch [5] and for many years, she presented arts and crafts on the children's television programme What Now and on the Good Morning Show. [2] As a working mother, Colston started using her wry sense of humour and expressed it as witty poetry and illustration in a regular column for Next magazine.

After returning to Wellington, she graduated in 2004 with an MA in Scriptwriting from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington. [6] [5] As part of her MA studies, Colston worked as a scriptwriter for Weta Workshop on the animated series Jane and the Dragon . She also worked for them on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2004 and as a costume illustrator for The Hobbit in 2010. [5] [2]

Her published work includes illustrations for trade and educational publishers, including more than 30 books. [2] [6] Colston was a judge for the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards. [7] She has served as President of the New Zealand Illustrators' Guild, Wellington committee member for the Storylines Festival, convener of the Wellington Children's Book Association and co-convenor of Spinning Gold, the Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference held in Wellington in 2009. [2] With a group of other writers, she began an online writing initiative for children called FABO Story [8] [9] and she often runs creative writing, illustrating and wearable arts workshops for schools. [10] [11] [6]

Nearly every year since 1995, she has submitted one or even two garments for the World of Wearable Art competition and has been a finalist many times. [5] [12] Her creation Lady Curiosity (inspired by Rachael King’s novel Magpie Hall) [13] [14] won third place in the Avant Garde Section of the 2010 Awards, [15] and in 2017, her piece The Organ Farmer won the Weta Workshop Science Fiction award. [16] Her work has been exhibited many times in the World of Wearable Art Museum in Nelson, and some of her pieces have toured New Zealand and overseas in WOW travelling exhibitions. [17] [18] [19]

In 2018 she took part in The Big Hoot, a fundraiser for Child Cancer Foundation, [20] [21] and she won the Fantastical Shoe section in the 2018 Shoes Extravaganza shoe design competition. [22]

She is married with two adult children [3] and lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

Awards and residencies

Several of Colston's books have been shortlisted for or have won awards or been named as Storylines Notable Books. She was a finalist in the Esther Glen Award 2010 for Glory, in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2014 (Non fiction) for Wearable Wonders, in the New Zealand Children's Book Awards 2015 for Ghoulish Get Ups and in the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2017 with Torty and the Soldier. [23] She won the 2014 LIANZA Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award for Wearable Wonders. [24]

Her YA novel Wild Cards was shortlisted for the 2016 Storylines Tessa Duder Award. [2]

In 2019, she was named as the University of Otago College of Education/Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence. [3] [25]

Bibliography

Writer/ Illustrator

Fifi's Crafty Arts (Ashton Scholastic, 1995)

Fifi's Crafty Arts 2 (Ashton Scholastic, 1995)

Fifi's Festive Fun (Ashton Scholastic, 1995)

Verity's Truth (Scholastic, 2003)

Janie Olive: A Recipe for Disaster! (Scholastic, 2005)

Glory (Scholastic, 2009)

Wearable Wonders (Scholastic, 2013)

Ghoulish Get Ups (Scholastic, 2014)

Writer

Masher (Puffin, 2022)

Illustrator

Old Man and the Cat by Anthony Holcroft (Whitcoulls, 1984)

Rain by Barbara Hill (Ashton Scholastic, 1984)

Oldest Garden in China by Anthony Holcroft (Whitcoulls, 1985)

Mr Magee Came Home for His Tea by Janet Slater Redhead (Ashton Scholastic, 1986)

Not Without Randolph by Ruth Corrin (Ashton Scholastic, 1993)

Midnight Feast by Elizabeth Pulford (Scholastic, 1996)

Get Real Paddy Manson by Ruth Corrin (HarperCollins, 1996)

Toroa text by Te Aorere Riddell; photographs by Brian Gunson (Huia, 2001)

Waka Wairua: The Spirit Waka by Yvonne Morrison (Reed, 2005)

Papa's Island by Melanie Drewery (Reed, 2006)

Itiiti's Gift by Melanie Drewery (Reed, 2006)

The Red Poppy by David Hill (Scholastic, 2012) Published in te reo Māori as Te popi whero.

Far, Far From Home by Elizabeth Pulford (Scholastic, 2012)

Toughen up, Andrew! by Anne Manchester (Submarine, 2016)

Grandad’s Guitar by Janine McVeagh (Makaro Press, 2017)

Torty and the soldier: a story of a true WWI survivor by Jennifer Beck (Scholastic, 2017) [26]

Go, Girl: A Storybook of Epic NZ Women by Barbara Else (Penguin Books, 2018) [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Paul</span> New Zealand childrens book author/illustrator (born 1964)

Ruth Paul is a children's picture book author and illustrator from Wellington, New Zealand.

Barbara Helen Else, also known as Barbara Neale, is a New Zealand writer, editor, and playwright. She has written novels for adults and children, plays, short stories and articles and has edited anthologies of children's stories. She has received a number of awards and fellowships including the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature, the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and the Victoria University of Wellington's Writer's Fellowship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Mewburn</span> New Zealand writer

Kyle Mewburn is an Australian-New Zealand writer whose books have won many prizes and awards. She lives in Millers Flat, Central Otago, writes picture books and junior fiction and is a popular and well-known speaker at schools and literary festivals.

Janice Marriott is a writer, editor, audio producer, screenwriter, creative writing tutor and mentor, manuscript assessor, poet and gardener. Several of her books have been shortlisted for or won awards and she has also been the recipient of a number of writing residencies, as well as the prestigious Margaret Mahy Medal in 2018. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Melinda Szymanik, born 1963, is an author from New Zealand. She writes picture books, short stories and novels for children and young adults and lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robyn Belton</span> New Zealand childrens book illustrator (born 1947)

Robyn Belton is an illustrator of children's books. Her work, often focusing on themes of war and peace, has won many prizes, including the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 1997 Picture Book Winner and Book of the Year, and the Russell Clark Award in 1985 and 2009. She herself has been recognised with the prestigious Storylines Margaret Mahy Award and the inaugural Ignition Children's Book Festival Award. She lives in Otago, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Beck (writer)</span>

Jennifer Lillian Beck is a New Zealand writer of over 50 children’s books. Her work, often focusing on themes of history, peace and war, has won numerous prizes and awards. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Mere Whaanga is a New Zealand writer, illustrator, historian, researcher and academic whose work includes bilingual picture books, history books and conference papers. Several of her books have been shortlisted for or won awards and she herself has received a number of awards, grants, fellowships and writing residencies. She lives in Māhia, Hawke's Bay.

Leonie Agnew is a children's writer and teacher. Several of her books have been shortlisted for or won awards, including the Tom Fitzgibbon Award in 2010, the Junior Fiction Section, the Children's Choice Junior Fiction section and the Best First Book Award of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2012, the Master of the Inkpot Competition in 2015 and the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction in the New Zealand Book Awards for Chidlren and Young Adults 2022. She has also been the recipient of a writing residency at the University of Otago. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Jillian Sullivan is a writer of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry and a creative writing teacher. Her work has been published in New Zealand and overseas.

Lorraine Orman is a New Zealand writer, librarian, writing tutor, competition judge and reviewer. She has written books for children and young adults and a number of her short stories have been anthologised. Her novel Cross Tides won the Best First Book Award at the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2005. She lives in Christchurch.

Nikola Slade Robinson, generally known as Nikki Slade Robinson, is a New Zealand children’s picture book writer and illustrator. Her books have been widely reviewed and shortlisted for a number of awards. The Little Kiwi’s Matariki won the Best Picture Book section of the 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Eirlys Elisabeth Hunter is a writer and creative writing teacher in New Zealand. She was born in London, England.

Maureen Crisp is a writer, teacher, literary blogger and book awards judge. In 2017, she was awarded the Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for outstanding service to children’s literature and she delivered the Storylines Spring Lecture on 27 November 2017. She lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

Frances Eleanor Cherry was a New Zealand novelist, short-story writer, and teacher of creative writing.

Shirley Corlett is a writer of fiction for children and adults. She lives in Masterton, New Zealand.

Pauline Cartwright is a writer of novels, picture books, stories and poems for children. She was awarded the Choysa Bursary in 1991 and the University of Otago College of Education / Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence Fellowship in 2003. She lives in Alexandra, New Zealand.

Elizabeth Pulford is a writer of fiction, poetry and non-fiction for children, teenagers and adults. Several of her books have been shortlisted for awards, and many of her short stories have won or been highly commended in national competitions. She lives in Outram, Otago, New Zealand.

Diana Noonan is a New Zealand children's author. In 2022 she was awarded the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for her outstanding contributions to New Zealand literature for young people.

Melanie Jane Drewery is a New Zealand children's writer, illustrator and potter, best-known for her Nanny Mihi series of children's picture books. Her books feature Māori language and culture. She has said she believes it is important for New Zealand children to see their culture reflected in books. In 2008 her book Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi won the award for Best Picture Book at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

References

  1. 1 2 "Interview with Fifi Colston". Christchurch City Libraries. 2005. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Colston, Fifi". New Zealand Book Council: Te Kaunihera Pukapuka o Aotearoa. April 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Guthrie, Fleur (19 November 2018). "What now, Fifi?". New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
  4. ↑ "Fifi Colston". The Big Idea. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "A lifetime of making great things". Stuff. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Profiles: Fifi Colston". Storylines. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Novel about friendship earns Joy Cowley top award". Newshub. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "FABO Story is Fabulous!". Christchurch Kids Blog. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "About FABO". FABO Story. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Girls WOWed by Fifi Colston". Saint Kentigern. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Fantastic morning with Fifi Colston". Fendalton Open Air School. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  12. ↑ Smithies, Grant (9 September 2017). "WOW 'lifer' uses human skeleton to create an organ-harvesting cyborg for final". Stuff. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Fifi Colston". Bellamys at Five. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "Lady Curiosity". Stqry. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  15. ↑ Crocker, Victoria (29 January 2016). "Designer Profile: Fifi Colston". World of Wearable Arts. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Indonesian designer takes out top WOW award". Radio New Zealand. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  17. ↑ Jones, Bridget (22 February 2013). "Wearable Art Exhibition goes on tour". Stuff. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  18. ↑ "Off the Wall: World of Wearable Art Up Close". Critic. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  19. ↑ Breton, Andrea (24 May 2017). "Travelling the World – WOW's International Exhibition". World of Wearable Art. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "About Us". The Big Hoot. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Artists: Fifi Colston". The Big Hoot. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  22. ↑ "Shoes Extravaganza 2018". Shoes Extravaganza. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  23. ↑ "2017 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Finalists announced today". Creative New Zealand. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Congratulations to 2014 LIANZA Children's Book Awards winners". National Library. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  25. ↑ "2019 University of Otago Arts Fellows named". University of Otago: Te Whare Wananga o Otago. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  26. ↑ Gill, Maria (10 March 2017). "Feature Illustrator – Fifi Colston". Anzac Stories: Behind the Pages exhibition. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  27. ↑ Green, Paula (1 May 2018). "In my hammock: reading Barbara Else's Go Girl: A Story of Epic NZ Women". Poetry Box. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.