John Shelley (ジョン・シェリー) is a British illustrator, particularly noted for his work in Japan.
John Shelley (born 1959) grew up in Sutton Coldfield before studying illustration at Bournville School of Art and Manchester Polytechnic under 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, he lived in Tokyo, rising to prominence following a series of posters for Parco, the fashion retail chain of Seibu Department Stores, and animated TV commercials for Mitsubishi Estate Co. From 2000–2007, he was Vice Chairman of the International Committee of the Japan Graphic Designers Association JAGDA.
He has illustrated children's books for all age groups through publishers in the UK, Japan and the US, and has self-authored picture books published in Japan. He is a former Board member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and has been a multiple time nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
In 2002 the comic character "Brat" was launched in Japan on apparel, collectors figurines and a web comic.
Shelley returned to the UK in 2008 following the death of his wife, and currently lives in Norfolk.
1982 Fatbag author: Jeremy Strong (A & C Black, UK)
1983 Get Lavinia Goodbody author: Roger Collinson (Andersen Press, UK) (Alfaguara, Spain)
1984 A Canoe in the Mist author: Elsie Locke (Jonathan Cape, UK)
1985 Night Eyes author: Peter Ward (Crystal Clear, UK)
1986 Japanese Vegetarian Cookery author: Lesley Downer (Jonathan Cape, UK)
1989 The Secret in the Matchbox author: Val Willis (Andre Deutsch UK / Farrar Straus & Giroux US)
1989 Santa ni Yoroshiku author: John Shelley (Parco Shuppan, Japan)
1990 The Surprise in the Wardrobe author: Val Willis (Scholastic UK / Farrar Straus & Giroux US)
1990 Peer Gynt author: Henrik Ibsen (condensed adaptation by Hiroshi Kawasaki) (Hyoronsha, Japan)
1991 The Mystery in the Bottle author: Val Willis (Scholastic UK / Farrar Straus & Giroux US)
1991 Ju -ni no Tsukitachi (The Month Brothers) trans: Sho Suzuki (Miki House, Japan)
1991 Ai o Uranau Sabian Astrology author:Kiyoshi Matsumura (Fun House Books, Japan)