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Photo of Gina Calleja

Gina Calleja (nee Gadsby)

Author/Illustrator

156 Kingsdale Ave.
Willowdale, Ontario
M2N 3W7
Phone: 416-221-8533
Fax: 416-221-8548

Born: Lowestoft, U.K.
Married to Joseph Calleja, artist, has daughter Anna, also artist and two grandsons.

Biography

Before coming to Canada in 1958, Gina Gadsby Calleja studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, University of London and at Reading University Department of fine Arts. She became a Canadian citizen in 1968. She began as an illustrator of children's books but was always interested in writing and decided to combine the two. She mostly concentrates on her own work, but occasionally illustrates for others. As a kid, she invented stories with pictures and now she is just doing the same thing as an adult. Her daughter and two grandsons are a great audience and the boys appear in many of her illustrations (recognizable to their friends) and occasionally their cat appears too.

Published Works

Bloor & Christie, Napoleon, 1998
Wizzo and the Cookie Babies, Napoleon, 1994
Tobo Hates Purple, Annick, 1983

Illustration only:
Great Food For Happy Kids by Jesse Frayne, Rendez-Vous Press, 2001.
Those Words by F.Etherington, Annick, 1982
Spaghetti Word Race by F.Etherington, Annick, 1981
Peas Again For Lunch by C. Beech, Annick, 1980

Work in Anthologies published by Copp Clark, Dent, Gage, Ginn & Co, Methuen, Nelson, Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Canadian Red Cross Swimming Instructor's Manual
Regular Contributor to Junior Magazine, and solo illustrator for Christmas issue, as well as posters.

Exhibitions

1999 The Slade School and the Wood Engraving Movement, University College, London, U.K.
1999 (ongoing) Canscaip Collection, travelling to various locations
1980 Miniature Art Group Show, Del Bello Gallery, Toronto Canada
1972 Group Show, Mezei Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1960's Jusy Show, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Canada
1954 "The Observer" Portraits of Children Exhibition, London, U.K.
1953-55 "The Twenty Group" Exhibitions, Norwich Castle Museum, Norwich, U.K.

Awards

GREAT FOOD FOR HAPPY KIDS was shortlisted for the GOURMAND WORLD COOKBOOK AWARD 2001 (English speaking children's category).
Canadian Children's Book Centre WIZZO & THE COOKIE BABIES Our Choice selection 1995
Alcuin Citations for Excellence in Children's Book Design (Honourble Mention in Juvenile Division) for TOBO HATES PURPLE 1984
Mountain Standard Book Club Selection (Canada Council Reading Program) for TOBO HATES PURPLE 1984-6
Canada Council Prizes (Now Gov. General's Awards) Honourable Mention for PEAS AGAIN FOR LUNCH 1981
Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award for Illustration, Shortlisted for PEAS AGAIN FOR LUNCH, 1981

Other Memberships

The Writer's Union of Canada

Available For

Readings in bookstores locally. This includes verbal and visual presentations with sketches suitable for ages 3-6 and up.