As an illustrator my work has crossed bridges spanning Eastern and Western cultures, between children's publishing and commercial illustration, two very different genres. Though I maintain a singular vision I tend to approach the diverse markets in unique ways, with distinctly differing techniques. A good illustrator has the chameleon's ability to respond to the requirements of the media, a poster in the street is generally viewed in a completely different way to a children's picture book, they appeal to different parts of the brain.

I've often felt that commercial illustration comes from the head, it's designed to leap out, grab viewers and hold them with it's graphic cleverness, it's visual sophistication or charm. It reaches out to seize it's audience. Publishing work on the other hand is more the realm of the heart, perhaps more feminine in that it gently charms the reader into the intimacy of a private world. It entices the viewer in. Of course often the greatest illustrations work on both levels.

I believe Illustration in the commercial market at it's best works on three levels. Firstly the image must be arresting, with enough graphic punch to engage the viewer and get the message across. This doesn't however mean that every image has to be forceful, subtlety also has it's place if the overall composition is strong.

Secondly it's important to create a visual world that captivates the viewer through technique, or mood and tone. A good illustrator is able to intuitively absorb their audience into the rarified air of the picture by style alone. The greatest images are quite literally inspirational, in that they conjure attitudes and possibilities, create worlds that motivate the mind of the viewer.

Thirdly character is important. I discovered early on in my years in Japan that an identifiable character can encapsulate a concept or mood in the most direct form, it has the power to engage directly with viewers.

For commercial illustration I prefer to keep the overall image as simple as possible, as it often has very little time to seize the attention of the viewer. That's not to say it may not be a complicated drawing, some of my work in this media has been highly detailed, but it nevertheless maintains a strong motif or composition that's instantly understood from a distance.

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Shelley at the Bologna Book Fair 2008
John Shelley is in attendance at this months Bologna Bookfair.
SCBWI Bologna Interview

Kotoba no Mori
2007 has seen the launch of a new English education editorial/ production company Kotoba no Mori (English title: World Planet Co.Ltd) in Japan.

Shelley created a series of illustrations for the company logo and image branding.

John Shelley Illustration Studio
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1543 301535
Business conducted in Japanese or English
Fees subject to usage and period of use.

All illustrations on this website are copyright and may not be
reproduced or used in any way without express permission from John Shelley.

Children's Book Agents
UK and Europe - Pam Royds and Caroline Knox at Knoxfolio
(+44) 07977 982359 or email

North America - Laura Rennert at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency
(+1) 650-853-1976 or email

John Shelley's commercial, editorial and children's book illustration portfolio spans newspapers, corporate image work 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.

John Shelley's Illustration clients include publishing companies, newspapers, corporate advertising, marketing, trade marks, licencing, television broadcasters, including animated TV commercials and illustration for 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