Fifi Colston (Crafts)
Fifi is a woman of many parts - "All of them working," she says.
Graduating in Wellington with a Diploma of Visual Communications Design in the early '80s, Fifi set about transforming a new environment, Christchurch, with her artwork. A commercial art airbrush queen, design tutor, arts and crafts presenter on the ever popular kid's show What Now and an illustrator of children's books, Fifi managed to juggle her many creative achievements; the biggest of which were her two babies. They both debuted on What Now as increasingly large bumps, sometimes getting in the way of the paint and glue.
Life as a working mother bought a wry sense of humour which was expressed as witty poetry and illustration for Next magazine in a regular column for many years. Fifi can sometimes be seen still, singing her poems with the aid of a ukulele as part of her stand-up comedy performances about town.
Years on, back in Wellington (the city of her heart) with husband and their two teenagers, Fifi is a regular entrant in the Montana World of Wearable Art awards. Five times finalist and award winner, Fifi teaches workshops to kids and adults alike in the creative process and techniques involved in creating art for the stage. A three-month stint at Weta Workshop working on The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe was "a riveting experience," she says. "I learned how to rivet armour and use a welding torch."
When Fifi isn't making things from egg cartons and glue for Good Morning , she continues to illustrate picture books (over 25 tiles in print), visit schools and inspire budding young artists through the New Zealand Book Council and - when she has a spare moment - she writes.
After a two year family adventure to Britain, Fifi returned home to study scriptwriting at Victoria University's Institute of Modern Letters. She graduated with an MA in 2003 and was delighted to be able to wear a mortar board and cape for the event, especially as the hood was lined with pink satin; it perfectly matched her lipstick, she says. Her two novels for the 8-12 age group, Verity's Truth and Janie Olive are published by Scholastic.
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