New Zealand Writers

COLSTON, Fifi

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'a popular New Zealand illustrator who is now breaking into fiction.' Lorraine Orman

COLSTON, Fifi (1960- ) is a writer, an illustrator, a poet, a scriptwriter and a columnist.

Colston was born in Yorkshire, U.K. and emmigrated to New Zealand in 1968. She returned to England briefly in 2001 and has now settled in Wellington.

In a richly varied career Colston has worked as a columnist for Next Magazine and About Kids. For seven years she presented the children’s television programme ‘What Now’ nationally. She did a one-year stint as a radio poet appearing regularly on Wayne Mowatt’s National Radio programme.

She graduated in 2004 with an MA Scriptwriting at the IIML from Victoria University.

Colston’s poetry has been published in Next Magazine and collected in Fifi Verses The World (1999) a collection that also included her illustrations. Verity’s Truth (2003) is her first young adult novel.

Colston has illustrated 24 books (listed below) as well as serving as the President of the New Zealand Illustrators’ Guild (1998-2000). Her illustrations can be seen in the NZ School Journal as well as on book jackets for publishers including: Scholastic, Learning Media, Shortlands, McMillian and Longman Paul.

Colston’s illustrated books include: The Old Man and The Cat (1984) Mr Magee Comes Home for his Tea (1984) Rain (1984) The Oldest Garden in China (1985) Not Without Randolph (1993) Fifi’s Crafty Arts: Book One (1995) Fifi’s Crafty Arts: Book Two (1995) Midnight Feast (1996) Get Real Paddy Manson (1996) This Tail (1996) It’s My Bread (1997) Dear Tom (1997) Fifi Verses The World (2000) Mystery Valley (2000) The Great Egg Problem (2000) Going Places (2000) Brother Trouble (2001) The Great New Zealand Activity Book (2000) Toroa (The Albatross) (2001) Panui Pangarau (2003) Nga Taonga O Te Kaitiora (2002) Te Takaro Tirama (2003) Te Ao Ahuahanga (2003) My Brother (2003) Tylers Tower (2004) My Name is Laloifi (2005) Waka Wairua (2005) Finding Tibs (2006) Papa's Island (2006) Itiiti's Gift (2006)

In addition to her writing and illustration work, Colston is a regular entrant in Wearable Arts New Zealand.

Fifi Colston lives in Wellington. She participates in the New Zealand Book Council Writers in Schools Programme.

(L.K.)

Updated Information

Colston worked as a scriptwriter on Jane and the Dragon for Weta Workhop in 2003. She was also an artist on the New Zealand production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2004.

Colston's children's book, Janie Olive: a recipe for disaster!, was published by Scholastic in 2005. It was a CLFNZ Notable Book Junior Fiction for 2006.

Colston illustrated Papa's Island (Reed, 2006) written by Melanie Drewery.

Fifi has done various School Journal illustrations, and covers for Scholastic, Learning Media, Shortlands, McMillan, and Longman Paul throughout 2007.

Fifi Colston is a regular weekly arts and crafts presenter on the Good Morning Show, on TV1.

Writers in Schools Information

Fifi Colston is available for schools visits as part of the Writers in Schools programme. Colston is happy to talk about book illustration; the process, method, etc. Her preferred age groups are primary (8 plus) and intermediate. She is willing to travel for school visits.

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