John Shelley Illustration Studio

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Advertising + Children's Books + Editorial + Character Design

LATEST REVIEWS OF 'THE BOAT IN THE TREE'

"Shelley beautifully renders tumultuous sea adventures, full of whitecaps and mythological creatures... Sophisticated illustrations and prose are well-matched, and a valuable lesson subtly presented" - Kirkus Reviews

"The richly detailed, imagined worlds will engage children ... while the messages about working through sibling rivalry will hit home with many." - Booklist

"The characters' joy, frustration, anticipation and fear are all readily accessible in the illustrations... The reader is in good hands here with celebrated author Tim Wynne-Jones and his illustrator, John Shelley. Highly Recommended" - Canadian Review of Materials

"With John Shelley's full page imaginative illustrations to accompany the story, readers learn about the narrator whose parents have just brought home a new adopted brother, Simon... His visions of becoming a pirate are fully realized by Shelley's surrounding picture... you really fall in love with these guys pretty quick. It's not the slightest bit mushy, but still, it touched my heart in the best kind of way...  The Boat in the Tree is good for any kid who feels lost or frustrated, but will really succeed with little future sailors" - Eclectica Magazine

Ranking amongst world famous illustrators , international Tokyo resident John Shelley's illustration portfolio spans thousands of miles .

John Shelley was born in Birmingham ( UK ). Inspired by children's illustrators , he studied at Bournville School of Art , then children's book illustration at Manchester under famous picture book author / illustrator Tony Ross . As a freelance illustrator in London he shared studios with illustrators including Jane Ray , and designer Andy Royston . Drawn towards Japanese art he moved to Tokyo in 1987 to sketch and study Japanese art .

In Japan Shelley became a popular Tokyo illustrator following famous poster artwork for Parco , pen and ink illustrations for award-winning advertising campaigns , plus marketing promotions such as the JR Ski Train . His commercial illustrators style is used in animated TV advertising , illustrated poster / newspaper advertising campaigns , cartoons , character merchandising and magazine editorial illustration . His artwork is famous for pen and ink line , humor , illustrative detail , characters and caricatures that picture the Orient with a European illustrators technique .

Shelley's illustration portfolio for children's books is in a detailed pen and ink / watercolor technique , reflecting beliefs that while commercial advertising illustration needs graphic power , kids books should be narrative and lyrical . His illustrations are published in picture books and children's illustrated novels by famous writers , plus his own stories . He's inspired by classic fairy tale illustrators . Following his debut award-winning picture book The Secret in the Matchbox , his children's watercolour illustrations continue to inspire , highlighted in solo illustrators exhibitions in Tokyo and overseas . As a children's illustrator Shelley has been translated into French , Spanish , Dutch and Korean . His reputation is global ,with a popular style of humorous fantasy illustration across Japan , the Far East , East Asia , Hong Kong , Korea , Australia , New Zealand , Europe , France , Holland ( the Netherlands ), Italy , Spain , United Kingdom and Great Britain ( UK ), United States ( USA ) and the Americas. He's a member of JAGDA , Picture Book Artists and SCBWI.

John Shelley illustration studio straddles Yokohama and Tokyo , with illustrator representation in the UK and USA . Business is in English or Japanese .

His illustrators portfolio spans newspapers, corporate image for international companies, free clip art ( for MSN / Microsoft ), stock illustration, syndicated cartoons, kids books, poster illustration, fashion illustration, mascots, licensed character design, merchandise, fantasy illustration, fairy tales illustration, fairy pictures, book covers, children's illustrations and illustrated graphic design. Artist materials include pen and ink, watercolor , pencil sketch and Adobe Illustrator / Photoshop.

Illustration clients include publishing, newspapers, corporate advertising, marketing, trade marks, licencing, television broadcasters, including animated TV commercial s , for * KODAK * HANKYU * PARCO * SUNTORY * JAPAN RAIL * IICHIKO * HAKKEIJIMA SEA PARADISE * TOYOTA * MITSUBISHI * ORIX * APPLE * JR , and illustration clients in Kansai * Fukuoka * Hiroshima * Kamakura * Kobe * Kyoto * Nagasaki * Nagoya * Nara * Osaka * Sapporo * Tokyo * Yokohama * Seoul * New York * Miami * Los Angeles * Manchester * London * Birmingham * Paris * Bologna

ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Fatbag ( illustrated novel ). Author - Jeremy Strong ( A & C Black , London )
Get Lavinia Goodbody! ( illustrated novel ) Author - Roger Collinson ( Andersen Press, London )
Bored Brenda ( children's magazine ) author/ illustrator - John Shelley ( Marshal Cavendish , London )
A Canoe in the Mist ( illustrated novel ) Author - Elsie Locke ( Jonathan Cape , London )
Night Eyes ( picture book ) Author - Peter Ward ( Crystal Clear , London )
Santa ni Yoroshiku ( picture book ) author + illustrator - John Shelley ( Parco Publishing , Tokyo )
Bobby Bell Series ( 3 picture books ) Author - Val Willis ( Scholastic , London , + Farrar Straus & Giroux , New York + Seuil , Paris )
Peer Gynt ( picture book ) ( Hyoronsha , Tokyo )
Ju-ni no Tsukitachi ( picture book ) Author - Samuel Marshak ( Miki House , Tokyo )
Hoppy no Atarashii Uchi ( picture book ) author + illustrator - John Shelley ( Fukuinkan Shoten , Tokyo + Daekyo Books , Seoul )
Shikake Ehon ( Picture Books 3 volumes ) author + illustrator - John Shelley ( Hikari no Kuni , Osaka )
Cinderella ( picture book ) ( Hikari no Kuni , Osaka )
Maho no Kasa ( picture book ) Author - Rose Fyleman ( Fukuinkan , Tokyo )
King Smelly Feet ( picture book ) Author - Hiawyn Oram ( Andersen Press , London )
Hawaiian Big Daddy ( illustrated novel ) Author - Banbis Snowflower ( Nikkei , Tokyo )
MVP ( illustrated novel ) Author - Douglas Adams ( Front Street , USA )
Deptford Mice ( illustrated novel ) Author - Robin Jarvis ( Hayakawa , Tokyo )
Shiranai Andersen ( picture books 4 volumes ) Author - Hans Christian Andersen ( Hyoronsha , Tokyo )
Charlie Bone series ( illustrated novels ) Author - Jenny Nimmo ( Tokuma , Tokyo )
The Boat in the Tree ( picture book ) Author - Tim Wynne Jones ( Front Street , USA )

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