[1] Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Hawkins graduated with a BSc degree in agriculture from the University of Natal.
[2] After earning his BSc, he became a school teacher, advertising copywriter, fumigator, soil surveyor, research assistant, lounge pianist and landscape gardener.
[1] Following the success of The Singer, Hawkins produced the TV series Adventure Unlimited and the television film Choose Freedom.
[2] In 2003, Hawkins released his full-length animated feature film The Legend of the Sky Kingdom.
[3] The characters and sets in the film were made from discarded items such as car parts, tools, kitchen utensils, pipes and pieces of wood.