Coral Tulloch

Coral Tulloch was born in Melbourne in 1956 and now lives in Hobart, Tasmania, where she works as both an author and an illustrator.

A history in promotion and illustration in newspapers led her to create a syndicated page for children, which appeared for over 20 years in newspapers throughout Australia and internationally.

During this time, Coral studied Fine Art at East Sydney Technical College, Animation at Randwick Technical College and had periods at studios, drawing in Florence, Italy, and lithography at The Academy of Applied Arts in Prague. Continuing work in advertising, film and magazine production, her main focus remained with children’s literature.

She has worked in both fiction and non fiction, having had an input in over 50 books for children, both for trade and educational publishers in Australia and internationally. One of her most loved characters, Barry the Burglar (Omnibus Books) still remains a favourite.

With her passion for environmental education, Coral was accepted for a voyage to the Antarctic continent and sub Antarctic in 1999, as an Antarctic Arts Fellow with the Australian Antarctic Division. She researched, wrote and produced initial designs and illustrated her factual work: Antarctica The Heart of the World (ABC Books), which won The Environment Award for Children’s Literature in 2004. In January 2007, it was named as one of the best books of the year by the US publication, Science Books and Films.

She continues with her Antarctic work through voyaging as an artist in residence with Quark Expeditions to the continent and has produced activity based material for both the Australian Antarctic Division and in her environmental series, Scholastic News. With her picture book Sydney of the Antarctic, she still searches for this special missing member of the family. She is currently working on a book on Macquarie Island with author illustrator Alison Lester.

Coral loves visiting schools and can provide a wide variety of talks and workshops for varying ages. From creating characters, cartooning and illustrating from the senses, to adopting language into visual narrative, Coral brings with her roughs, manuscripts, dummies and finished art. With her picture book Sydney of the Antarctic, she still searches for this special missing member of the family.

In a school or library setting, Coral provides information talks on Antarctica and can combine writing and illustrating workshops, covering many aspects of Antarctica, including fiction. She brings with her clothes and creatures, posters, journals, photos, research and illustrations.

"Coral was amazingly flexible in her ability to engage all ages across the two days she was with us. She worked with our Grade 5's on narrative techniques, then did an illustrator's workshop with Grade 6's. She talked to our Year 7's who are studying Antarctic this term, then to Year 8's who are focusing on environmental issues which they need to present in a picture book format. And, finally she spoke to our Year 12's on the impact on the Antarctic by the environment if we do not care for it.

All round just fantastic. I would highly recommend her for any age group. She is so personable and nothing is too much trouble. Her passion was quite infectious."

Deanna Pienaar - Emmanuel College (Qld)

Coral was excellent last Friday. She had the students in grades 3 to 6 enthralled with her exploits in Antarctica and with showing them her outfits and all the posters. The students in Prep to Grade 2, and the staff, loved her story book about Sydney and his adventures and really enjoyed drawing where they thought Sydney might be now. They then drew where their favourite toy might be.

Robyn Schmid
Preston West Primary School (Vic)

Coral's visit was a great success . . . the students loved hearing about Antarctica and her visits there. We had a have had a fantastic Book Week.
Jenny (St Kevin's Junior School VIC)