About the Author

Sydney Alexander (S. A.) Wakefield (1927–2009)
received much recognition for his writing, and
in 1991 Captain Deadlight’s Treasure was
shortlisted for the CBC awards. But he is best
known for his Bottersnikes and Gumbles series
of children’s books, all of which were illustrated
by Desmond Digby.

Desmond Digby (1933–2015) was born in
Auckland, and after studying at the Slade School
of Art he moved to Australia and worked as a
set and costume designer with Opera Australia,
the Australian Ballet and the Elizabethan
Trust Opera. He illustrated Waltzing Matilda
by A. B. Paterson and also designed covers for
Patrick White’s novels. His paintings are held by
most of Australia’s major galleries.