TONY KENYON – PROFILE
Tony Kenyon works in a garden studio in what was once a Roman cemetery called the Skulls. The garden overlooks a 12th cent church and Winchester Cathedral. An author/illustrator of many children’s books published worldwide, Tony recently retired from full time publishing work, to return to his first love, painting and printmaking.
TRAINING
Born in Derbyshire, Tony apprenticed for 5 years as a lithographic artist before studying graphic design at the London School of Printing.
WORK EXPERIENCE
4 years as an art director in London followed before Tony moved to Montreal Canada for 3 years, again to work as an art director for leading advertising agencies, following this he was lured to San Francisco at the height of the psychedelic craze before a final move to Honolulu Hawaii.
HAWAII
Tony remained in Hawaii for 12 years, again working as an art director, but finding time to design a newspaper and several magazines. He created Major Mynah, a life sized mascot for the Honolulu Symphony. Animated a 10min road safety film for children. He wrote and illustrated his first 3 children’s books and it was in Hawaii that Tony had his first paintings and prints exhibited at the Honolulu Academy of Fine Arts.
A colour woodcut, ‘Pali Oahu’ was purchased by the State of Hawaii to hang in the Governor’s offices. Various Paintings and prints are in collections in Canada and California and were exhibited in travelling exhibitions in the Pacific States.
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Following a return to the UK in 83, Tony settled in Winchester to work as a full time illustrator. In 97, after completing an MA degree in Children’s Literature he returned to writing and as author/illustrator has had a further 8 titles published, including the popular ‘Olly Bear’ series for Orion Publishing, appearing in 9 foreign co-editions and ‘Pat-a-Cake’ published by Candlewick Press USA, which won the Oppenheim Gold Award for children’s books. For information about Tony’s original book art for sale see the contact page.
ARTIST/PRINTMAKER
Now fully occupied (when not travelling) with fine art and printmaking. A recent interest has been artists books. After being introduced to bookbinding he now combines this with his experience in the graphic arts.