Gus Gordon

Author, Illustrator

Gus Gordon is an internationally acclaimed illustrator and author. He grew up on a farm in northern NSW Australia and, after leaving school, worked on cattle stations all over the country before deciding to pursue a drawing career. Gus studied at the Julian Ashton School of Art in Sydney. After a brief stint as a cartoonist, Gus was asked to illustrate his first children’s book in 1996. He knew at once that this was where he wanted to be, knowing he had always had a child-like curiosity and love for stories. Gus began his career illustrating books for others before a yearning to tell his own stories compelled him to try his hand at writing. He has since illustrated and/or written over 80 books for children.

His illustrations are known for their loose and energetic line work, mixed media and humour; however, collage is the medium he is often recognised for. Much of his work contains old ephemeral paper items such as catalogue engravings, postcards, advertisements, receipts, stamps, theatre programs and maps. He is especially inspired by children’s drawings and their ability to tell story in an honest, uncomplicated fashion and feels that we as adults, are often too focussed on narrative structure and beautiful imagery, while the most crucial element, story, is left behind. David Hockney’s, quote, ‘Perspective strangles art,’ encapsulates this well. Gus’ writing is always anthropomorphic – where animals take the place of humans in the narrative. He attributes this to an early love of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in The Willows and Richard Scarry’s ‘Busy’ stories.

Over the past 30 years, Gus has visited well over a thousand schools and festivals around Australia and internationally, speaking to children about illustration, writing, character design and visual literacy. He also enjoys talking specifically about the process of writing and illustrating picture books, dispelling the illusions about their creation, believing that it is important for children to understand what happens behind the scenes so they can better appreciate how words and pictures work together to tell story.

Gus’s first graphic novel, Into the Bewilderness was released in 2025. It’s an existential story about a bear called Luis and a mole called Pablo who live deep in the wilderness, far from culture and civility.

Gus also loves cheese, and things that go with cheese.

Where were you born?

In Sydney but we soon moved to a farm in northern NSW where we made things and were cruelly forced to use our imagination. Tough times.

What other jobs have you had?

When I left school I worked some years as a stockman on humungous cattle stations in far north Queensland and the Northern Territory. One of these stations was 16,000 square kilometres! Later, in the city, I worked on building sites banging things, making loud noises and digging really large holes.

What themes are recurring in your work?

I always end up writing about ordinary characters (animals) and their journeys. They either have an exceptional (nonsensical – often inconceivable) adventure or they discover something they didn’t know that was there in front of them all along. Generally I’m seduced by the everyday ‘man in the street’ character who is missing something and may or may not realise it. Also, humour is never far away, even in the darker moments.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Seeing my first book, A Day With Noodles, in the bookstore after illustrating other folk’s books for so long. Seeing Wendy through to publication gave me the confidence to keep up my writing. Heading to New York to research my new book Herman and Rosie and picking up my agent while over there. I think my biggest career highlight was waiting (very nervously) as US publishers bid for Herman and Rosie at auction in New York. Moments like these make the long hours and storytelling frustrations well and truly worthwhile.

Where have your works been published?

Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, the UK and the US (soon!)

What are you passionate about?

Making books; bringing to life an idea or character from a sketchbook. I love spending time with my family and kids and I find the beach particularly inspiring.

Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I am partial to good wine and mouldy cheese. I am also a fan of good comedy (Mitch Hedburg, Bill Bailey, Ricky Gervais) and indie music (The Blue Nile, Trashcan Sinatras, Deehunter, Fleet Foxes, Grandaddy, Orange Juice, Sparklehorse, Bill Callahan, Frightened Rabbit, Decemberists, Matt Pond PA etc etc.)