To Fly Up High
in the Big Blue Sky
Ned Sevil and the Tent Pegs
This is a special book – a family collaboration through time. To tell a tale through bringing together a collection of Ned Sevil’s ink drawings and characters, years after he died in 2010.
All the artworks in the book were made between 2000 and 2010 and have been collaboratively put together by Ned’s brother artist and book designer Tom Sevil (aka Civil), his mother psychologist Chris Mason and his sister-in-outlaw poet Lou Smith – who collectively make up the ‘Tent Pegs’. It has been made with love to celebrate the beautiful, playful spirit that was Ned, and to share the incredible collection of artworks he has left behind.
Follow along with the character in the story who seeks advice and comfort from friends. True to the fable form, there is a whimsical quality about this story with a main protagonist who is sweet and fey yet determined in their quest To Fly Up High in the Big Blue Sky.
It is a story of courage, determination and friendship. And for those readers who are happy and ready to talk about more complex themes, it is the perfect springboard for discussing more deeply the notion of death.
We really hope this book finds a special place in your lives.
Picture book for the kids (of all ages).
46 PAGES
Dust Jacket – Featuring pull-out Poster
Full Colour throughout
Exposed spine saddle stitch flat opening
Flat fee of $10 postage and handling
for however many copies you purchase.
This is a special book – a family collaboration through time. There is a beautiful, moving and important back story to this picture book. Ned Sevil died from cancer in 2010 aged 30. All the artworks in the book were made between 2000 and 2010 and have been collaboratively put together by Ned’s brother artist Tom Sevil (aka Civil), his mother psychologist Chris Mason and his sister-in-outlaw poet Lou Smith. Who collectively make up the ‘Tent Pegs’. It has been made with love to celebrate the beautiful, playful spirit that was Ned, and to share the incredible collection of artworks he has left behind.
Ned’s drawings, whether in his sketchbooks or for exhibition, were intimately connected with his street art and graffiti work. Ned painted and drew around Australia on street corners, shed doors, abandoned houses, train lines, lonely highways and more.
Ned was an artist who completed honours at Sydney College of the Arts. He exhibited as part of the Makeshift Collective at ACCA and Mori Gallery and as Evil brothers with his brother Tom in Melbourne, Sydney, and Alice Springs and with his dad as Sevil and Sons at New England Regional Gallery in Armidale NSW.
We really hope this book finds a special place in your lives!
Flat fee of $10 postage and handling for however many copies you purchase.
Order Book
This is a special book for anyone that’s ever thought of following their dreams, and a reminder that our imagination and a little creativity is all we need to fly.
– Marc Martin
Such a moving tale with superb and whimsical artwork –
utterly captivating.
– Trace Balla
This is a touching and gentle story of a journey to honour a thoughtful soul taking flight. Made in memory of a brother lost too soon, his drawings live on to inspire other creative souls to find their own wings.
– Tai Snaith
A charming fable about the quest to make life beautiful, and the unlikely allies who help us along the way.
– Sonya Hartnett
Example pages from the book
Ned Sevil (1980 – 2010) was born in Tamworth and for the last 7 years of his life he divided his time between living in Warmun in the East Kimberley and Newcastle and Sydney in New South Wales. He had dreams of being a country music superstar but was tone deaf and scared of farm animals. When he lived out in the bush he missed graffiti, trains, laksas and the ocean. In the city he missed dry wood, dry humour, empty highways and real community life. Ned first got into graffiti as a teenager and then into making art in public spaces and working in collaboration with other artists and communities. Due to crook lungs from having Cystic Fibrosis Ned was made to lay down his spray cans to rest. This forced him to pick up other tools such as photography and installation to continue working on the street and in abandoned spaces.
Ned went on to do honours at Sydney College of the Arts. As well as exhibiting in several Empty Shows and on the street, he exhibited as part of Makeshift Collective at ACCA and Mori Gallery, and then as Evil Brothers with his brother Tom Sevil in Melbourne, Sydney and Alice Springs, and with his dad Tony Sevil and Tom as Sevil and Sons at New England Regional Gallery in Armidale NSW. In Warmun he worked with Gija people at the Arts Centre, facilitating youth programs and media projects. Ned died from cancer in late 2010 aged 30.
Ned’s drawings, whether in his sketchbooks or for exhibition, were intimately connected withhis street art and graffiti work.
Ned painted and drew around Australia on street corners, shed doors, abandoned houses, train lines, lonely highways and more.
Ned painting his last track side piece outside of Cooper Pedy, South Australia.
Photograph by Tom Sevil , 2010.
Ned painting in Fitzroy, Melbourne.
Photograph by Tom Sevil , 2009
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