John Shelley (illustrator)
Encyclopedia
John ShelleyJohn Shelley (ジョン・シェリー）Born 28 June 1959 in Birmingham
, is an award winning British-born illustrator
, particularly noted for his work in Japan.
under the auspices of Tony Ross
. His first children's trade picture book
The Secret in the Matchbox published by André Deutsch
and Farrar, Straus and Giroux
was shortlisted for the Mother Goose Award
in the UK and won a Parents' Choice Award
in the US in 1989.
From 1987-2008 Shelley lived in Tokyo
, illustrating for advertising and publishing. He rose to prominence following a long term series of posters for Parco
, the fashion retail chain of Seibu Department Stores
, and animated TV commercials
for Mitsubishi Estate Co.
in the early 1990s
. He received a Dentsu
Ad Award for a Suntory Whisky newspaper ad in 1991, and a Nikkei Environmental Ad Award in 1993. From 2000-2007 he was Vice Chairman of the International Committee of the Japan Graphic Designers
Association (JAGDA).
Children's Books
Shelley has illustrated over 40 titles for the Japanese, US and UK markets. Popular books in Japan include １２の月たち/The Twelve Months (Miki House), and the 4 volume series あなたのしらないアンデルセン/Unknown Andersen (Hyoronsha). He's the illustrator for the Japanese edition of Jenny Nimmo
's Children of the Red King
series (Tokuma Shoten
). Shelley is a Board member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
.
In 2002 he launched the comic character "Brat" which appeared in Japan on apparel, collectors figurines and ran as a web comic
.>
Sources & Refs
FEN Guide Nov 1991
Mainichi Shimbun
Face No.330 2004
Icon Magazine September 2004
The Communicator February 2002
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, is an award winning British-born illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, particularly noted for his work in Japan.
Career
Shelley studied illustration at Bournville School of Art and Manchester PolytechnicManchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
under the auspices of Tony Ross
Tony Ross
Tony Ross is a British illustrator and author for children.He is most noted for his work with Francesca Simon on the Horrid Henry books, and has also illustrated the Harry The Poisonous Centipede and Dr. Xargle series of books...
. His first children's trade picture book
Picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
The Secret in the Matchbox published by André Deutsch
André Deutsch
André Deutsch was a British publisher.After having learned the business of publishing working for Francis Aldor with whom he was interned in the Isle of Man during the Second World War and who had introduced him to the industry, André Deutsch left Aldor's employment after a few months to continue...
and Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger W. Straus, Jr. and John C. Farrar. Known primarily as Farrar, Straus in its first decade of existence, the company was renamed several times, including Farrar, Straus and Young and Farrar, Straus and Cudahy...
was shortlisted for the Mother Goose Award
Mother Goose Award
The Mother Goose Award was a British annual award, presented by Books For Children to "the most exciting newcomer to British children's book illustration." Established in 1979, the award was last given in 1999...
in the UK and won a Parents' Choice Award
Parents' Choice Award
The Parents' Choice Award is an award presented by the non-profit Parents' Choice Foundation to recognize "the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels." It is considered a "prestigious" award among children's products, and has been...
in the US in 1989.
From 1987-2008 Shelley lived in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, illustrating for advertising and publishing. He rose to prominence following a long term series of posters for Parco
Parco (retailer)
is a chain of department stores primarily in Japan. The first store was established in Tokyo on , and since then the company has opened stores in cities all over Japan....
, the fashion retail chain of Seibu Department Stores
Seibu Department Stores
is a Japanese department store. The first store to trade under the name opened its doors in 1949. Seibu is typical of Japanese department stores with a wide variety of stores doing business on several floors. The company is now a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd..-Japan:The Seibu...
, and animated TV commercials
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for Mitsubishi Estate Co.
Mitsubishi Estate Co.
is a Japanese corporation. It is one of the core Mitsubishi companies. Mitsubishi Estate has its headquarters in the Otemachi Building in Ōtemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo.-Business:...
in the early 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
. He received a Dentsu
Dentsu
is one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. Its headquarters are located in the Dentsu Building in the Shiodome district of Minato, Tokyo....
Ad Award for a Suntory Whisky newspaper ad in 1991, and a Nikkei Environmental Ad Award in 1993. From 2000-2007 he was Vice Chairman of the International Committee of the Japan Graphic Designers
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
Association (JAGDA).
Children's Books
Shelley has illustrated over 40 titles for the Japanese, US and UK markets. Popular books in Japan include １２の月たち/The Twelve Months (Miki House), and the 4 volume series あなたのしらないアンデルセン/Unknown Andersen (Hyoronsha). He's the illustrator for the Japanese edition of Jenny Nimmo
Jenny Nimmo
Jenny Nimmo is a British author of numerous books for children, including many fantasy and adventure novels, beginning reader books, and picture books....
's Children of the Red King
Children of the Red King
Children of the Red King is a popular series of children's fantasy and adventure novels written by British author Jenny Nimmo. It is also known as the "Charlie Bone" series and, before it was extended to eight books, as the "Red King Quintet"....
series (Tokuma Shoten
Tokuma Shoten
is a publisher in Japan, that was established in 1954.The company was also the parent company for the film studio Daiei Motion Pictures, bought in 1974, and the record label Tokuma Japan Communications, bought in 1972, until both were sold off when Yasuyoshi Tokuma, who established this company,...
). Shelley is a Board member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a nonprofit, 5013 organization that acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people.The...
.
In 2002 he launched the comic character "Brat" which appeared in Japan on apparel, collectors figurines and ran as a web comic
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
.>
Sources & Refs
FEN Guide Nov 1991
Mainichi Shimbun
Mainichi Shimbun
The is one of the major newspapers in Japan, published by .-History:The history of the Mainichi Shimbun begins with founding of two papers during the Meiji period. The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun was founded first, in 1872. The Mainichi claims that it is the oldest existing Japanese daily newspaper...
Face No.330 2004
Icon Magazine September 2004
The Communicator February 2002
External links
- http://www.charlesbridge.com/contributorinfo.cfm?ContribID=409
- http://www.jshelley.com
- http://www.scbwifrance.com/meetthepros/interviews_2004/john_shelley.htm