Martin Baynton
Encyclopedia
Martin Baynton is a British
Author
, Illustrator
, Actor
and TV producer. He is a children’s book writer, he has also written fiction for adults and a selection of his short stories have been anthologised. He is well known for his children’s book Jane and the Dragon
(1988), which has since been adapted for television and produced by Weta Workshop
. His books have been widely published in the UK, US, New Zealand
and Australia
, and he has illustrated books written by authors such as Russell Hoban
and Kenneth Grahame
.
Born in London
, Baynton was educated at Hereford Cathedral Prep School and Ledbury Grammar School, and studied electroencephalography
at Great Ormond Street Hospital
. In the 1970s, he joined St Bartholomew's Hospital
developing biofeedback
technology, and as a therapist working for biofeedback pioneer Dr Ann Wooley-Hart.
In addition to writing and illustrating children's books, Baynton has been a Producer, writer and director for the stage and TV. In 2002 he teamed up with Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop
to create and produce children's television. They created the award winning Jane and the Dragon
(based on Baynton's book series of the same name
), and more recently The WotWots
(for pre-schoolers).
Baynton and Taylor are founding partners and owners of Pukeko Pictures a New Zealand based IP development company creating children's properties for film and TV.
Baynton moved to New Zealand in 1987 with his wife Diane and his children Theo and Terri. His son Theo Baynton who is also a writer and illustrator, was the art director on Jane and the Dragon. In 2009 Baynton and Theo developed The WotWots
along with Richard Taylor for Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop.
Baynton has also worked as actor for the stage and for TV.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, Illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, Actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and TV producer. He is a children’s book writer, he has also written fiction for adults and a selection of his short stories have been anthologised. He is well known for his children’s book Jane and the Dragon
Jane and the Dragon
Jane and the Dragon is a series of children's books written and illustrated by Martin Baynton. The three books are "Jane and the Dragon" ; "The Dragon's Purpose" ; and "Jane and the Magician" ....
(1988), which has since been adapted for television and produced by Weta Workshop
Weta Workshop
Weta Workshop is a special effects and prop company based in Miramar, New Zealand, producing effects for television and film.Founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger as RT Effects, Weta Workshop has produced creatures and makeup effects for the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys...
. His books have been widely published in the UK, US, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and he has illustrated books written by authors such as Russell Hoban
Russell Hoban
Russell Conwell Hoban is an American writer, now living in England, of fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magic realism, poetry, and children's books-Biography:...
and Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame was a Scottish writer, most famous for The Wind in the Willows , one of the classics of children's literature. He also wrote The Reluctant Dragon; both books were later adapted into Disney films....
.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Baynton was educated at Hereford Cathedral Prep School and Ledbury Grammar School, and studied electroencephalography
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain...
at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
. In the 1970s, he joined St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
developing biofeedback
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is the process of becoming aware of various physiological functions using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will...
technology, and as a therapist working for biofeedback pioneer Dr Ann Wooley-Hart.
In addition to writing and illustrating children's books, Baynton has been a Producer, writer and director for the stage and TV. In 2002 he teamed up with Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop
Weta Workshop
Weta Workshop is a special effects and prop company based in Miramar, New Zealand, producing effects for television and film.Founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger as RT Effects, Weta Workshop has produced creatures and makeup effects for the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys...
to create and produce children's television. They created the award winning Jane and the Dragon
Jane and The Dragon (TV series)
Jane and the Dragon is a CGI animated series based on the books of the same name by Martin Baynton. The show is directed by Mike Fallows and motion capture directed by Peter Salmon; it is co-produced by Weta Workshop in New Zealand and Nelvana Limited in Canada...
(based on Baynton's book series of the same name
Jane and the Dragon
Jane and the Dragon is a series of children's books written and illustrated by Martin Baynton. The three books are "Jane and the Dragon" ; "The Dragon's Purpose" ; and "Jane and the Magician" ....
), and more recently The WotWots
The WotWots
The WotWots is a New Zealand children's television show which debuted in 2009.The show features two aliens, named SpottyWot and DottyWot, who spend their days exploring a zoo where their steam-powered spaceship has landed.This show also plays on Canada's Treehouse TV which played in early 2010.-...
(for pre-schoolers).
Baynton and Taylor are founding partners and owners of Pukeko Pictures a New Zealand based IP development company creating children's properties for film and TV.
Baynton moved to New Zealand in 1987 with his wife Diane and his children Theo and Terri. His son Theo Baynton who is also a writer and illustrator, was the art director on Jane and the Dragon. In 2009 Baynton and Theo developed The WotWots
The WotWots
The WotWots is a New Zealand children's television show which debuted in 2009.The show features two aliens, named SpottyWot and DottyWot, who spend their days exploring a zoo where their steam-powered spaceship has landed.This show also plays on Canada's Treehouse TV which played in early 2010.-...
along with Richard Taylor for Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop.
Baynton has also worked as actor for the stage and for TV.