Kilmeny Niland facts for kids

Kilmeny Niland (born 1950, died 2009) was a talented Australian artist. She was also a wonderful illustrator, especially known for her children's books. Kilmeny created many different types of art. This included animation, wildlife art, tiny paintings called miniatures, and portraits. She also designed cards and prints.

Kilmeny won many awards in art competitions both in Australia and around the world. One of her portraits was even bought by the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. With her twin sister, Deborah, she helped illustrate a children's version of a famous poem. This poem was Mulga Bill's Bicycle by Banjo Paterson.

Kilmeny Niland's Life Story

Kilmeny Niland and her twin sister, Deborah, were born in 1950. They were born in Auckland, New Zealand. Their mother was Ruth Park, a famous Australian author. Their father was D'Arcy Niland, who was also an author and journalist.

Kilmeny had three older brothers and sisters. Their names were Anne, Rory, and Patrick. They were born in Australia. The family later moved back to Sydney, Australia. They lived in Neutral Bay and then Balgowlah Heights.

The twin sisters went to Saint Cecilia's Primary School. After that, they attended Stella Maris College. Both sisters then studied art at the Julian Ashton Art School. This school helped them become great artists.

Their father passed away in 1967. Later, their mother took Kilmeny and Deborah to London. Their brother Patrick had a chance to study music there.

Kilmeny Niland married Rafe Champion in 1979. He was a writer and researcher. They had four sons together. Their sons were named Leo, Hugh, Patrick, and Tom.

Kilmeny faced a serious illness in 1991. In 2008, she was diagnosed with another illness. She passed away in February 2009.

Her Artistic Career

Kilmeny and Deborah started their art careers in London. They worked as freelance artists. This means they worked for themselves and took on different projects. Their first book together was The Little Goat. It was published in 1971. By then, the sisters had moved back to Australia. They lived in Cremorne.

The sisters worked together on eleven more books. They also worked on animated films. They did this at Eric Porter's studios in Sydney.

During her life, Kilmeny Niland published 47 books. She illustrated 12 of these books with her sister Deborah. She also wrote and illustrated 13 books by herself. For 34 other books, she created the pictures for stories written by other authors.

Awards and Special Mentions

Kilmeny Niland received several important awards for her work:

• Visual Arts Board award, 1974, for Mulga Bill's Bicycle (with Deborah)
• IBBY Honour Diploma, Illustration, 1976 for Mulga Bill's Bicycle
• Whitley Awards, Best Children's Book, 1980, for Feathers, Fur and Frills
• Faber Castell Grand Prize at the Combined Australian Societies of Miniature Art, 2000

Books She Illustrated

• An Aussie Night Before Christmas (2005)
• Blossom Possum : The Sky is Falling Down-under (2006)
• Callie's Castle (1985)
• Callie's Family (1988)
• Clancy of the Overflow (2002)
• Fair Dinkum Aussie Christmas (2007)
• Fairy Tale Picture Dictionary (1979)
• Fey Mouse (1988)
• The Gigantic Balloon (1975, with Deborah Niland)
• The Gingerbread Man (2006)
• Grandad Barnett's Beard (1988)
• How Many Dogs in the House? (2004)
• Just Like That (1986)
• Matthew and the New Baby (1986)
• Mulga Bill's Bicycle (1973, with Deborah Niland)
• My brother John (1990)
• Old Witch Boneyleg (1978)
• One-eyed Jack and Other Rhymes (1975)
• Pancakes & Painted Eggs : A Book for Easter and All the Days of the Year (1981)
• Riverview Kids (1971, with Deborah Niland)
• Roger Bandy (1977, with Deborah Niland)
• Sheep shape (1992)
• Tell Me a Tale : Stories, Songs, Verses and Things To Do (1974, with Deborah Niland)
• Tell Me Another Tale : Stories, Verses, Songs and Things To Do (1976, with Deborah Niland)
• The Farm Alphabet (1973, with Deborah Niland,)
• The Haunted Castle (1979)
• The Land and the Spirit : An Australian Alphabet (1992)
• The Little Goat (1971, with Deborah Niland)
• The Ugly Duckling (2006)
• The Window Book (1992)
• The Zoo Alphabet (1980, with Deborah Niland)
• Travelling Songs of Old Australia (1966, with Deborah Niland, uncredited)
• Wishbone (2002)
• What Am I? (1974, with Deborah Niland)

Books She Wrote and Illustrated

• Animals at Home (1995)
• Animals at Large (1995)
• Animals at Play (1994)
• Animals at Work (1994)
• An Aussie Day before Christmas (2008)
• A Bellbird in a Flame Tree (1989)
• Birds on a Bough : A Counting Book (1975, with Deborah Niland)
• Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails (1984)
• Fat Pat (2008)
• Feathers, Fur and Frills (1980)
• My World (1981)
• Two Bad Teddies (2009)
• Two Tough Teddies (2007)

Books She Wrote

• The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies (2010, with Tom Niland Champion)