Born in Auckland 1906, Ernest Mervyn Taylor's illustrations of New Zealand bird life and tales of Maori mythology were reproduced from 1940 until 1964 in the widely distributed School Journal. Until 1939 the School Journal was the Department of Education's sole publication for children. In the mid 1940s with Taylor as Art Editor, the emphasis shifted from European to New Zealand content.

Fellow artist and contributor John Drawbridge, credits Mervyn Taylor with establishing the tradition of high standards in illustration, typography and book design long associated with this publication.

Drawing upon his training as a jewellery engraver, Taylor became known for his elegantly meticulous wood engravings. In 1948 he worked with Russell Clark to produce more than 150 drawings for the book Life in the Pa. The story of a young Maori boy taken from his Northland home by a war party and raised by another tribe. Taylor contributed artworks of birds, Maori implements and weapons studies for which he had completed in Wellington's Dominion Museum, now Te Papa Tongarewa.

Taylor's talents were recognised in 1952 when he was awarded a two-year scholarship to study Polynesian art. Taylor passed away in 1964 acknowledged by friends as a quiet, unassuming gentleman totally committed to his art.