Peter James Gouldthorpe (born 30 July 1954) is an Australian artist and author best known for his children's books. He lives and works in Hobart, Tasmania with his wife, Jennie, and has two children. Early life Gouldthorpe was born in Melbourne, but most of his childhood was spent in the Northern Beaches of Sydney. After leaving high school, he studied art at East Sydney Technical College (now the National Art School), before moving to Tasmania at the age of nineteen. Here, he taught at Devonport and Launceston TAFE colleges, and began painting landscapes, holding several solo exhibitions in Devonport at The Little Gallery (now the Devonport Regional Gallery). Children's books Gouldthorpe wrote and illustrated his first children's book, Jonah and the Manly Ferry, in 1983. Since then, he has gone on to illustrate or write/illustrate seventeen picture books and innumerable educational books. His work uses a wide variety of mediums including linocut, scraperboard, watercolour, crayon, coloured pencils, acrylic and oil paints. His books have often been shortlisted for The Children's Book Council of Australia's Children's Book of the Year Awards. In 1994, First Light (written by Gary Crew) was awarded Picture Book of the Year. He has collaborated with some of Australia's best-loved children's authors, including Paul Jennings, John Marsden and Colin Thiele. He has also introduced a new generation of young readers to the works of great Australian poets CJ Dennis and Ethel Turner though his illustrated versions of their work. Landscape painting Since 2001, Gouldthorpe has returned to landscape painting, often working en plein air. He has held several solo shows at Colville Street Art Gallery. He has been a three-time finalist in the Glover Prize, winning the People's Choice Award in 2010. Other media Gouldthorpe's work appears in many other areas, including murals, stamps, advertising, film, television and live performance. Several of his murals, employing the Trompe-l'œil technique, can be seen around the streets and businesses of his home town, Hobart. Works Children's non-fiction Ice, Wind, Rock: Douglas Mawson in the Antarctic (written and illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe, 2013) - Children's Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Book of the Year Award Notable Book 2014 Lyrebird!: a true story (written by Jackie Kerrin, 2012) - Children's Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Book of the Year Award Honour Book 2013 No Return: Captain Scott’s Race to the Pole (written and illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe, 2011) Queenie: One