About John
After debuting as an illustrator in London in the early '80's I settled in Japan for over 20 years, where I was known for commercial illustration in addition to childrens books for Western and Japanese markets. I returned to the UK in 2008.
Board of Advisors, Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Association of Illustrators (AOI) and Society of Authors (SOA).
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FacebookJohn's Blog: Shelley Scraps - Recent Posts
| 12/19/2016 | (0 Comments )
 Dear colleagues and creatives, readers and rebels, fans and fantasists. To all my readers and friends, Warmest Wishes for a sparkling festive season!Illustration adapted from The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (Hesperus Press,... Read the rest of this post |
| 12/13/2016 | Poster Competition to save Sutton Coldfeld Library (0 Comments )
 (photo © Sutton Coldfield News) The Campaign to save Sutton Coldfield Library has launched a poster competition open to anyone aged under 18, to raise awareness of the proposed closure of the library by Birmingham City Council. I've been... Read the rest of this post |
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John's Picture Gallery
This gallery contains 11 pictures, click a picture to view a larger size.
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(c) 2024 John Shelley
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| John's Published Works | Ages | Date Published | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Books 1 - 4 of 46 from John's published works, View all 46 books Click a book's title for more details about the book | |||||
| 1. Fatbag The Demon Vacuum Cleaner (Mass Market Paperback) Author: Jeremy Strong Illustrator: John Shelley Publisher: Puffin Books |
N/A |
12/07/1993 Add | |||
| 7 Reviews | |||||
| 2. The Mystery in the Bottle (Hardcover) Author: Val Willis Illustrator: John Shelley Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux (J) |
Ages 4-8 |
10/1991 Add | |||
| 3 Reviews | |||||
| 3. Japanese Vegetarian Cookery (Hardcover) Author: Lesley Downer Illustrator: John Shelley Publisher: Jonathan Cape |
N/A |
07/24/1986 Add | |||
| 2 Reviews | |||||
| 4. A Canoe in the Mist (Hardcover) Author: Elsie Locke Illustrator: John Shelley Publisher: Jonathan Cape Children's Books |
N/A |
09/06/1984 Add | |||
| 5 Reviews | |||||
| Bestselling order determined by Amazon.com SalesRank(tm) | |||||
| Books Recently Added to John's Bookshelf | Ages | Date Added | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Books 1 - 4 of 41 from John's bookshelf, View all 41 books Click a book's title for more details about the book | |||||
| 1. Alchemy and Meggy Swann (Hardcover) Author: Karen Cushman Publisher: Clarion Books |
Young Adults |
2/23/2012 Add | |||
| John said: Nice cover, who's the illustrator? tags: illustrator | |||||
| 545 Reviews | |||||
| 2. 王の森のふしぎな木 (チャーリー・ボーン#5) (Tankobon Ha... Author: Jenny Nimmo, John Shelley, ジェニー ニモ Illustrator: John Shelley Publisher: 徳間書店 |
N/A |
12/21/2008 Add | |||
| John tagged as: I illustrated | |||||
| 392 Reviews | |||||
| 3. ジッパーくんとチャックの魔法 (Tankobon Hardcover) Author: John Shelley, 早川 真知子 Illustrator: John Shelley Publisher: 理論社 |
N/A |
12/21/2008 Add | |||
| John tagged as: I illustrated | |||||
| 1 Reviews | |||||
| 4. ベリー・セント・エドマンズの幸福な丘 (Tankobon Hardcover) Author: Fraser Harrison, フレイザー ハリソン Illustrator: John Shelley Publisher: メディアファクトリー |
N/A |
3/24/2008 Add | |||
| John said: Japanese edition of "A Father's Diary" by Fraser Harrison. tags: I illustrated | |||||
| 1 Reviews | |||||
| Bestselling order determined by Amazon.com SalesRank(tm) | |||||
Profile Comments
Comment by Claire Barker on 3/8/2010 at 1:54 PM:
Thank you for your kind comments john; back at you! My book is coming out on the 2nd of September. I feel in a weird limbo as they seem to want the words but can't afford to print full colour illos (it's 22,000 words, children's paperback). The words just started as an addition to the pictures, b... more
Comment by Claire Barker on 3/8/2010 at 1:48 PM:
Hi John, thanks for your kind comments and back at you! My book is coming out on the second of September. It's a slow old process though, not at all the rollercoaster I imagined.
Hi John, thanks for your kind comments and back at you! My book is coming out on the second of September. It's a slow old process though, not at all the rollercoaster I imagined.
Comment by jason ferguson on 3/4/2010 at 5:41 PM:
Thanks for the friendly request John!
Thanks for the friendly request John!
Comment by Diane Dawson Hearn on 3/4/2010 at 12:32 PM:
Just wanted to chime in to say that I think John's work is wonderful.
Just wanted to chime in to say that I think John's work is wonderful.
Comment by Gail Fattori on 9/26/2009 at 12:25 AM:
Your work is really beautiful. I hope to see more some day. Thank you for sharing.
Your work is really beautiful. I hope to see more some day. Thank you for sharing.
Comment by Lachlan Creagh on 4/1/2009 at 4:59 PM:
Wow beautiful detail, you can just look and look and look.
Wow beautiful detail, you can just look and look and look.
Comment by Glenn Brucker on 10/22/2008 at 9:10 PM:
The cover of MVP is wild!
The cover of MVP is wild!
Comment by Annie Donwerth Chikamatsu on 10/25/2007 at 9:23 PM:
Congratulations, John and Tim, on the nomination of THE BOAT IN THE TREEf or a Sakura Medal!!! annie
Congratulations, John and Tim, on the nomination of THE BOAT IN THE TREEf or a Sakura Medal!!! annie
Comment by NANCY DOLL on 8/27/2007 at 5:29 AM:
VERY COOL ILLISTRATIONS, NICE VERIETY, I LOVED THEM. THANKS FOR SHARING THEM. NANCY & MAC
N&M
VERY COOL ILLISTRATIONS, NICE VERIETY, I LOVED THEM. THANKS FOR SHARING THEM. NANCY & MAC
N&M
Comment by Zoe Marriott on 7/30/2007 at 1:05 PM:
Hi John - what a shame we live in different countries. I'd be very happy to treat you to a giant chocolate chip cookie over discussion about star formations and favourite fantasy artwork. If you ever visit the UK, let me know!
Hi John - what a shame we live in different countries. I'd be very happy to treat you to a giant chocolate chip cookie over discussion about star formations and favourite fantasy artwork. If you ever visit the UK, let me know!
Comment by kit grady on 7/29/2007 at 3:48 PM:
John.
'From the depths of Suburban Yokohama" ------How cool
I do enjoy your illustrations
Kit
John.
'From the depths of Suburban Yokohama" ------How cool
I do enjoy your illustrations
Kit
Comment by Zoe Marriott on 7/27/2007 at 3:42 PM:
A belated thank you, Pimpernell. The winged horse painting (actually called a 'hurrock' in the book 'Realms of the Gods' by Tamora Pierce, to which that artwork belongs) is by English artist David Wyatt, my number one favourite illustrator. Your own illustrations are very beautiful - it makes me wis... more
Comment by Nataly Adrian on 7/13/2007 at 3:17 AM:
Thanks for the add and thanks for sharing such beautiful illustrations with us. Best wishes, Nataly Adrian
Thanks for the add and thanks for sharing such beautiful illustrations with us. Best wishes, Nataly Adrian
Comment by Jo Empson on 7/10/2007 at 12:05 PM:
Really good to hear from you, I love reading your blogs...always very interesting. Thanks for your positive comment (much welcomed). Love the detail of your illustrations and expressive characters. As you've probably heard it's a very soggy Summer back here the U.K. more wellie weather than flipflop... more
Comment by Kanako Usui on 7/9/2007 at 6:51 AM:
Hi John!
Thank you for letting me know this web site.
I will try to make lots of connections!
I'm amazed by your work! Very different from what I can do. It's so inspiring!
Hi John!
Thank you for letting me know this web site.
I will try to make lots of connections!
I'm amazed by your work! Very different from what I can do. It's so inspiring!
Comment by Marilyn Scott-Waters on 7/8/2007 at 11:57 AM:
John! Hello! Thanks for the invite. Are you going to the SCBWI Summer Conference in LA this year? I hope so!
Things here are spinning in a creative whirlwind. Great fun!
Best thoughts,
Marilyn.
John! Hello! Thanks for the invite. Are you going to the SCBWI Summer Conference in LA this year? I hope so!
Things here are spinning in a creative whirlwind. Great fun!
Best thoughts,
Marilyn.
Comment by Nancy Bea Miller on 7/7/2007 at 9:52 AM:
Hi John, I am simply stunned and amazed by your work! It is wonderful! And your blog is great, too! I'm running out of my alotted exclamation point quota for the day, so I'll stop now. But, very pleased to meet you!
Hi John, I am simply stunned and amazed by your work! It is wonderful! And your blog is great, too! I'm running out of my alotted exclamation point quota for the day, so I'll stop now. But, very pleased to meet you!
Comment by Jeanne Prevost on 7/2/2007 at 10:02 PM:
John, thanks for your invitation to my daughter for SCBWI in Japan. She is going as part of the JET program - to teach English. She is not writing or illustrating now (except for advising me and revising with me.) I enjoyed looking at your art. How do you like Japan? Anything we should know?
John, thanks for your invitation to my daughter for SCBWI in Japan. She is going as part of the JET program - to teach English. She is not writing or illustrating now (except for advising me and revising with me.) I enjoyed looking at your art. How do you like Japan? Anything we should know?
Comment by Jane Son on 6/29/2007 at 2:12 AM:
Dear John from Japan
It's very nice to be in tocuh with you. we can share our publishing experience in each counties. actually, I have one of your book which is the boat in the tree for the review. it's a coincident you connect me when I have the title.
let's stay in touch. thank you... more
It's very nice to be in tocuh with you. we can share our publishing experience in each counties. actually, I have one of your book which is the boat in the tree for the review. it's a coincident you connect me when I have the title.
let's stay in touch. thank you... more
Comment by Jenny Desmond Walters on 6/8/2007 at 11:05 AM:
John, Thank you for the recommendation and Jacketflap invitation. Already, I'm captivated by the wealth of information and exciting people here . This site will be a great inspiration and support for me. Thanks a ton!
Jenny
John, Thank you for the recommendation and Jacketflap invitation. Already, I'm captivated by the wealth of information and exciting people here . This site will be a great inspiration and support for me. Thanks a ton!
Jenny
Comment by Damian Ward on 5/21/2007 at 5:41 AM:
Magnificent illustrations! They continually invite the viewer to come back and find something new in the depths of line and color. I'm a new fan
Magnificent illustrations! They continually invite the viewer to come back and find something new in the depths of line and color. I'm a new fan
Comment by Todd-Michael St. Pierre on 5/19/2007 at 9:56 AM:
Incredibly good stuff!
Incredibly good stuff!
Comment by Nic Watts on 4/26/2007 at 5:45 AM:
Hi John, good to hear from you, well who knows if kid's books are picking up in the UK? i suppose it the $10,000 question. I find you really just have to ignore the market and keep ploughing on!
Im really impressed that you've done so well internationally, i've always fancied living and workin... more
Im really impressed that you've done so well internationally, i've always fancied living and workin... more
Comment by Maryann Cocca-Leffler on 4/25/2007 at 11:10 PM:
Hi John-Love your stuff- I really like hearing about your NYC adventures a while back. Did anything come of it?
Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Hi John-Love your stuff- I really like hearing about your NYC adventures a while back. Did anything come of it?
Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Comment by Ginger Nielson on 4/25/2007 at 12:32 PM:
You have a wonderful imagination and a skill that captures the reader on every page of any book you illustrate. I join in thanking you for sharing your insights and knowledge with others.
You have a wonderful imagination and a skill that captures the reader on every page of any book you illustrate. I join in thanking you for sharing your insights and knowledge with others.
Comment by Nic Watts on 4/24/2007 at 2:35 PM:
love house of the world, really brilliant illustration
love house of the world, really brilliant illustration
Comment by Janee Trasler on 4/18/2007 at 1:19 AM:
Hi John! Your work is so lovely. Count me amongst your fans.
Hi John! Your work is so lovely. Count me amongst your fans.
Comment by June Goulding on 4/17/2007 at 5:08 AM:
I had the pleasure of meeting John very briefly at a Bologna Children's Book Fair, and liked him immediately!
His illustrations are likened to those of Rackham, a skill which can only be a dream for many of us.
And John is always willing to share his knowledge to help others... Thanks John... more
His illustrations are likened to those of Rackham, a skill which can only be a dream for many of us.
And John is always willing to share his knowledge to help others... Thanks John... more
Comment by Lisa Yee on 4/13/2007 at 1:02 PM:
Hi John,
I'll be at the National SCBWI Conference in L.A. this year. Hope to see you there!
Lisa
Hi John,
I'll be at the National SCBWI Conference in L.A. this year. Hope to see you there!
Lisa
Comment by Harold Underdown on 4/13/2007 at 10:56 AM:
Hi John. Thanks for your comment--nice to "see" you hear too.
Hi John. Thanks for your comment--nice to "see" you hear too.
Comment by Annie Donwerth Chikamatsu on 4/12/2007 at 1:48 AM:
Yes, faraharia, I agree. I thought of Kay Nielsen, too. John has a great range. From his picture books to the illustrations he did for the Hans Christian Anderson translations here in Japan. He's a great SCBWI advisor (and guy), too.
Yes, faraharia, I agree. I thought of Kay Nielsen, too. John has a great range. From his picture books to the illustrations he did for the Hans Christian Anderson translations here in Japan. He's a great SCBWI advisor (and guy), too.
Comment by farah aria on 4/12/2007 at 12:47 AM:
John Shelley is an amazing artist! His illustrations remind me of the great illustrators of the past such as Rackham and Dulac! Pure magic!
John Shelley is an amazing artist! His illustrations remind me of the great illustrators of the past such as Rackham and Dulac! Pure magic!
Hi,
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed looking at the pictures you posted. You are amazingly talented. Beautiful work. I wish you luck.