Bob Kerr (author and artist)


Bob Kerr is an author, illustrator and artist based in Wellington, New Zealand. He writes and illustrates children’s books and has won several awards for his work. He lives and works in Wellington, New Zealand.

Biography

Bob Kerr was born in 1951 in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in Tokoroa and graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts in 1974 from the University of Auckland. In 1973 he was an editor of Craccum along with collaborator Stephen Ballantyne, with whom he went on to create Terry and the Gunrunners, which has been adapted for television twice. The first series was released in 1985 and is hosted in full on NZ On Screen. The 2016 series was "a darker, edgier, more mature reboot of the show". The comic was re-issued in 2015.
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.
Many of his stories have appeared in the New Zealand School Journal. He was included in the book A Nest of Singing Birds:100 Years of the New Zealand School Journal.

Painting

Kerr's paintings are often based on historical events. His work has featured the stories of conscientious objectors, scientists, the New Zealand Wars, the 1916 police invasion of Maungapohatu, a New Zealand soldier's experiences during the Gallipoli campaign, and the Waihi miners' strike of 1912. His best-known work appears on the cover of Michael King's book The Penguin History of New Zealand.

Select bibliography