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Gabriel Evans
Author, Illustrator, Online - Virtual Visits
Gabriel Evans is a picture book author and illustrator.
His books have been published in fourteen countries, read on ABC’s Play School and reviewed in the New York Times. They’ve been shortlisted twice in the Children’s Book Council Picture Book of the Year with a further six notable books in the same award.
Gabriel is a dynamic and engaging speaker, giving interactive sessions on the craft of creating picture books. He’s visited educational institutions in major cities and remote regions around Australia.
What other jobs have you had?
I’ve been a swimming teacher, worked in a winery, a gardener at a police station, a grocery manager in a supermarket and a self-employed greeting card business owner all before the age of twenty.
What have been the highlights of your career?
Receiving an email from someone in Italy who had enjoyed one of my books as a child and was now reading it to their child (I didn’t think I’d be hitting that goal so soon in my early 30s, but here we are).
What themes are recurring in your work?
Friendship. The interaction and tension between two characters and the resulting growth is an interesting concept to explore.
What are you passionate about?
Visiting schools and libraries and developing creative ideas with an enthusiastic audience.
Where have your works been published?
Australia, North America, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Italy, Greece, Denmark, Turkey, Russia, China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
I enjoy my morning coffee in a Cornishware cup – they have a distinctive blue and white ringed pattern. Look out for them appearing in my books.
Testimonials
I wanted to let you know that Gabriel was fantastic. Teachers were raving about how well he kept the students engaged (not easy on zoom) and parents have emailed me to let me know how much their children enjoyed his “visit”.
Thank you for recommending him to us. I will definitely be letting other schools know.
We had three sessions with Gabriel ranging from Kinder to Year 6. The children and teachers were involved, attentive and enjoyed the hands on activity of being led into illustrating step by step. The results were impressive. Gabriel brought him expertise and humour and a genuine desire to engage with his audience. It was a very successful and inspiring day.
From the office staff down to the canteen ladies Gabriel impressed all he met in our school.
“Gabriel was a warm and fun presenter who embraced the students and their illustration efforts. The manner in which he related his creative process when illustrating a book gave the students an insight into this field and was an inspirational springboard for them. His workshop was well planned and applied. Thanks Gabriel!”
“Gabriel Evans was fantastic! That phrase was used a lot by both the students and the teachers. He had our students, from Kindergarten to Year 6, engaged and entertained for the entire session. He also gave them amazing tips on where to get ideas from, how to develop them and on how important it is to keep trying to improve them. With that advice in mind and with the drawings they produced with Gabriel, teachers said the students were very keen and excited to start their own narratives. Thank you Gabriel for sparking such enthusiasm for writing and drawing!”
“I’d just like to express how happy we were with Gabriel as a presenter. His enthusiasm and talent kept our year 9 students completely engaged for the whole 90mins It was great for them to hear Gabriel talk so honestly about how to persevere in a challenging industry. I was particularly impressed with the workshop component. It was great seeing the students get so involved and it tied in so perfectly with our illustration unit this term. I hope we can get Gabriel back again next year!”
“Just want to tell you how much the 139 students kindergarten to year 6 enjoyed Gabriel’s talk! They were enthusiastic and listened and learnt and became motivated to illustrate. One hour was a great length of time and it had drawing, talking, movement and imagination involved in the presentation. Thanks heaps! Hopefully we’ll get some illustrators out of his visor to The Scots School Albury.”
“On Monday 23 October 2017, 60 Visual Art students from across the Grades had the opportunity to participate in a workshop conducted by a children’s book illustrator Gabriel Evans. Gabriel has illustrated over 18 books and has worked for major publishers including Walker Books Australia, The Five Mile Press and Koala Books. Gabriel passed on his vast knowledge and professional experience to students through interactive activities that focussed on the process of designing a character, the tools in creating a page spread, portraying the emotional body language of characters and training the eye in composition. Gabriel’s presentation methods were engaging, motivational and inspirational.”
“Gabriel’s presentation was polished and he got through everything he wanted in the hour. Giving a publisher pitch to the kids was a great idea – it got them drawing, and gave a real (simplified) idea of what it’s like to work as an illustrator – the rejections, the processes, some tips and tricks, some of the lingo. He gave them deadlines (one or two minutes) and got them to add settings and backgrounds.”
“Gabriel was very engaging and charismatic. Children were inspired. Even children who hate art were enthusiastic to be involved. Story planning content was very beneficial to engage children in writing. Fantastic work! Excellent.”
“With over 260 students, ranging from years 1 – 4, Gabriel expertly explained to the students his craft. He presented at a level that all the students could understand and they were all keen to listen intently.”