Richard Taylor is a co-founder and the creative lead at Weta Workshop which he runs with his wife Tania Rodger. Weta Workshop has an international reputation as one of the film industry's most successful design and special effects studios. Richard has won five Academy Awards© for Weta Workshop's work on large-scale feature films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong, as well as being known for The Chronicles of Narnia, Daybreakers, District 9, Avatar, Elysium, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Chappie, The Hobbit trilogy, The Great Wall and Ghost in the Shell. Weta Workshop has also produced hundreds of miniatures, models and puppets for TV shows like Hercules, Xena and Thunderbirds Are Go. Richard has also received four BAFTAs, two VES awards and a number of national/international entertainment, business and community awards.

Richard co-owns Pukeko Pictures with Tania, Martin Baynton and Pioneer Capital. They have created and developed a number of properties together including the award-winning television show Jane and the Dragon, pre-school series The WotWots, Thunderbirds Are Go and Cleverman.

Although Richard's career has primarily focussed on the screen industries, he has also completed a number of jobs within the Museum trade including for Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (Blenheim, NZ), Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington, NZ) and The Great War Exhibition (Wellington, NZ).

In 2010 Richard was awarded a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to film, and in 2012 was named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year. Richard and Tania are Patrons for the Neo Natal Trust in New Zealand.

www.wetaworkshop.com