Robyn Belton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robyn Belton
Belton at the 2021 Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival
Born	1947 (age 77–78)
Known for	Illustration

Robyn Belton is a talented artist who draws pictures for children's books. Her artwork often explores ideas about war and peace. She has won many important awards for her illustrations. These include the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards and the Russell Clark Award. Robyn Belton has also received the Storylines Margaret Mahy Award and the Ignition Children's Book Festival Award. She lives in Otago, New Zealand.

About Robyn Belton

Robyn Belton was born in 1947. She grew up on a farm in a place called Whangaehu, near Whanganui. When she was 12, she went to a boarding school in Whanganui.

Later, Robyn studied art at the Canterbury School of Fine Arts. A famous artist named Russell Clark was one of her teachers. She started drawing for the New Zealand School Journal in 1977.

Robyn and her husband, Peter, lived in Levin and Nelson. They later moved to Dunedin, where they live now.

Her Drawing Style

People describe Robyn's drawing style as focusing on "the small details of everyday life." They also say her art has a "whimsical touch." This means her drawings are often playful and a little bit magical.

She has illustrated books for famous authors like Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley. She drew the pictures for Joy Cowley's popular "Greedy Cat" series.

Robyn has also worked with author Jennifer Beck. Together, they made books like The Bantam and the Soldier and The Anzac Violin. These books talk about topics related to war in a gentle way.

Robyn once said that she and another artist, Jenny Cooper, both became "war artists" by accident. She added that she sees herself as a "Peace Warrior." She hopes her art can help bring good to the world.

Awards and Special Opportunities

Robyn Belton has won many awards for her amazing artwork. Several of her books have been chosen as Storylines Notable Books. They have also been considered for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration.

Award-Winning Books

• The Bantam and The Soldier: This book was written by Jennifer Beck and illustrated by Robyn Belton. It won the New Zealand Post Children's Book Award in 1997. It was also named Book of the Year.

• The Duck in the Gun: This is an anti-war picture book by Joy Cowley, with Robyn's illustrations. It won the Russell Clark Award in 1985. Later, it was chosen as one of ten books for the Hiroshima Peace Museum.

• Herbert the Brave Sea Dog: Robyn Belton wrote and illustrated this book herself. It is based on the true story of a dog lost at sea. This book won the Russell Clark Award in 2009.

Special Recognitions

In 2006, Robyn was given the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal. When she received it, she gave a speech called "Gathering Images: The Stories Behind the Pictures."

In 2011, she received the William Hodges Fellowship. This is a special award that helps artists with their work.

In 2015, Robyn Belton and Jennifer Beck worked together as "Children's Writers in Residence." This means they had a special time at the University of Otago College of Education to work on their books. During this time, they worked on The Anzac Violin. This book is based on the true story of Alexander Aitken and his special violin. The Aitken Violin is now on display at Otago Boys' High School.

In 2018, Robyn received the first-ever Ignition Children's Book Festival Award in Dunedin. She won this award for her long and dedicated work in children's literature and illustration.

Images for kids

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  Belton at the 2021 Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival