Living in Port Chalmers I’m constantly aware of the ebb and flow of both the harbour waters and the rivers of air in the sky. Unsurprisingly, over the years, they have influenced a great many of my stories and drawings. Some involve the history of the place, some the animals that haul themselves up on the beaches, and some the old myths and legends that still, for me at least, lurk out beyond the dark horizon.

– David Elliot

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In Wind and Waves, people and creatures, in, on, above and near the ocean become characters that are interwoven with histories of exploration and scientific research, as well as mythological tales and high sea adventure. Port Chalmers and Otago Harbour – Kōpūtai and Ōtākou – serve as inspiration for many of the works in the exhibition, as do the natural elements, which are personified as giant entities that command the weather. Other works reflect David’s on-going fascination with books and the imagined worlds they contain, delving into the classic literature of the sea. Winds howl through their pages, storms rage against their bindings, tiny ships are flung across their pages and strange creatures are cast up onto their margins.

David Elliot is an award-winning illustrator and writer for children. He has illustrated over 50 books for authors around the world, and produced ten picture-books of his own, notably earning national and international accolades along the way. 

David has lived in Port Chalmers for more than 35 years and much of his work has been inspired by the surrounding coast, its history, wildlife and ever-changing weather. Wind and waves brings together his life-long love of drawing and his enduring passion for books with a more recent foray into sculpture.