iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

#inktober2026 Day 9, and the prompt word is RAM. Something simple tonight as I'm still not feeling so well, how about a Southdown Ram near Ramsgate? #Inktober #Inktober_RAM

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#inktober2026 Day 7, and the prompt word is PANIC. ... continuing the tale of the Ogre! #Inktober #Inktober_panic #kidlitUK

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

#inktober2026 Day 3, and the prompt word is MINIATURE. It's all a question of perspective ;) #Inktober #InktoberMINIATURE

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Oh my gosh! It's 1st October - I only just realised, and that means the start of #Inktober2026 ! Just before the day ends then, here's a quick drawing for today's prompt word - APPLE Phew! almost there! #inktober #inktober_apple

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Mervyn Peake - 'At the Warrington', 1938. Currently up for auction. #mervynpeake

Sketch of a woman holding a glass in a pub, in 1930's clothes, by Mervyn Peake.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

If you're in #Norwich today, I'm DJing cruising downtempo and house at #LookTwice on Lower Goat Lane, the city's coolest art/lifestyle shop & gallery ( looktwice.co.uk ) all day until 5pm, all vinyl. Do drop by!

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Today’s the official release of "Stone Giant - Michelangelo’s David and How He Came to Be" in paperback. Words by Jane Sutcliffe, illustrations by your’s truly. If you missed the hardback edition, now’s your chance! Charlesbridge publishers, ISBN 978-1-58089-296-4 #kidlit #kidlitUK #picturebook

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Post a character you think is cool and give no explanation why:

Illustration by John Shelley of an 18th century adventurer, in frock coat and cocked hat, one foot on a treasure chest, the other holding a large telescope to his eye. Rolled Maps under his arm, sea gull sitting on telescope.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Artists, quote with your blue art! From the picture book 'Halloween Forest' (HolidayHouse publishers, words by Marion Dane Bauer) #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitUK

picture book illustration of a child in black clothes, walking down a forest path enclosed by a line of trees.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Many thanks to the Playhouse Bar for last night's gig. Special thanks to the lady who found my locking screw on the floor after my headphones fell apart! (thankfully not broken, just dissassembled due to the loose screw!). Lesson learned - always check equipment before DJing! #Norwich #DJJellyDrops

photo of dissassembled DJ headphones in front of turntable set-up.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Friends in #Norwich, just a little notice that tomorrow, Saturday 5th Sept, I'll be playing the sunset slot at the Playhouse Bar from 5.30-7.30pm, between Barman Joe and Tony Biscotti. It will be chill! #DJevent

Flyer for DJ gig at the The Playhouse Bar, Norwich on 5th September, showing DJ Jellydrops character in front of a setting sun.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

What a lovely surprise in the post today! ‘Stone Giant’, my non-fiction picture book with the late Jane Sutcliffe on Michelangelo’s creation of the statue of David, has a new paperback edition! @charlesbridge #picturebook #Michelangelo #bookrelease #kidlitART #kidlitUK #kidlit

paperback copies of the picturebook 'Stone Giant' by Jane Sutcliffe and John Shelley (Charlesbridge publishers)

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Show how you paint old people... Well here's an old one (illustration that is) - from '１２の月たち' (The 12 Months), my picture book retelling of the Slovakian fairy tale, translated by Sho Suzuki and published by Miki House & Kodansha in Japan. #kidlitART #kidlitUK #picturebooks

Fairy tale illustration of an old woman wrapped in a fur coat, walking in a snow scene, about to be engulfed by the winter wind.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

As a separate thing to my illustration career, I've started a JellyDrops Instagram account just for DJing / music updates, including info on my next gig this Saturday afternoon at #LookTwice in #Norwich. If it's of interest, give me a follow! www.instagram.com/dj_jellydrops/ #Jellydrops

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Well that was fun! Thank you to everyone who came to #ThePlayhouseBar in #Norwich last night, and to the lovely welcoming staff. It was great to be back on the old ones and two's DJing in public again, the grooves went down welI think! It's been a long time, there'll be another soon :)

Photo of John Shelley DJing as Jelly Drops at The Playhouse Bar, 8th August 2026.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

It's 20 years since I last DJ'd in Tokyo, but in recent months the time seemed right to get a couple of old turntables in again. Tonight I'm playing my first gig in a long, long time, and my first ever in the UK. It will be very chilled, if you're in #Norwich drop by! #djevent

Flyer for DJ Jelly Drops at the Playhouse Bar, Saturday 8th August 2026. 8pm-midnight. Chilled grooves & house

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

If you see this, post a monster! From the Sketchbook.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

'Hamlet'. Poster for a production by GMBH Yellow Helmets Theatre company, touring in Japan this month. イエローヘルメッツ劇団『ハムレット』のポスターです。今月上演されてます。AD市川きよあきさん。 #Hamlet #Shakespeare #Illustration #イラスト #poster #ポスター

'Hamlet' Poster illustration, showing the face of the King made up of a collage of profiles of Hamlet, his mother Gertrude, father-in-law Claudius, and Ophelia

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Dear friends, It's another scorching summer in these parts. Wherever you are, stay cool and have a splashing time! いよいよ本格的な夏の到来ですね！身を守って、涼しくして、水しぶき時間をたのしんでください！ #暑中お見舞い

Illustration of a group of frogs suspended in the splash and jet of a traditional old fountain.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

'Spiral Town', #ThrowbackThursday to an old exhibition drawing. Feels somewhat appropriate in this heatwave! #illustration #KidlitART #KidlitUK

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Artist! Quote with your blue art! A spread from 'Magic for Sale' (words by Carrie Clickard, Holiday House Books for Children) #illustration #kidlitart #kidlitUK

children's book Illustration of a friendly classic white ghost flying above a jumbled shop stock room.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

If you see this, post something pink! ..... some old exhibition fun! #illustration #kidlitart

Comical illustration of a pile of bald, naked male plump characters.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

For #ThrowbackThursday here's a spread from my first trade picture book, 'The Secret in the Matchbox' (words by Val Willis, Andre Deutsch / Farrar Straus & Giroux 1988). #picturebook #kidlitart #kidlitUK

illustration of a giant dragon in a smoke filled classroom, with a terrified teacher standing on a chair, and innocent child looking on.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Sad to hear of the passing of #LenDeighton, the author of The Ipcress File and so many other classic novels. What I didn't know until today though, was that he was originally an illustrator! Here's a poster he designed for London Transport in 1957. What a multiply talented man he was!

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Artists, drop something red. (From the #picturebook Halloween Forest, words by Marion Dane Bauer, Holiday House Publishers, USA) #kidlitART #kidlitUK

Picture book illustration of child dressed in black carrying an orange sack, descending steps in a jumbled town, with a red sunset background.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

I've not posted train passenger #sketches for a while, here are some recent from my last excursion down to London. #sketchbook #pendrawing #illustration #kidlitart #kidlitUK

Pen drawing of a bearded train passenger reading a magazine.

Pen drawing of a female train passenger in a winter coat.

Pen drawing of a sleeping train passenger.

Pen drawing of a male train passenger wih glasses.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Back from London late last night, a rail replacement bus from Ipswich to Norwich due to a fallen tree on power lines. It was a long haul. :( #railproblems #transport #sketchbook

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Witnessing the odium spewing from the orange one on the other side of the Atlantic like....

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

あけましておめでとうございます！2026年があなたに力強さ、エネルギー、そして勢いをもたらしますように！A very Happy New Year to all my friends. Hoping this Year of the Horse will bring you strength, energy, and momentum! #謹賀新年 #NewYear2026 #謹賀新年2026

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

I created the cover and lead feature illustration for the latest issue of 'The Author', the Journal of the @societyofauthors.bsky.social , A lovely early Christmas present! #societyofauthors #kidlitUK #kidlitART

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Wishing all my friends a magical, angelic Christmas! 皆さんに素晴らしい天使の気持ちのクリスマスを祈ります！ #christmas #christmas2025 #クリスマス

Christmas illustration of 6 herald angels forming the shape of a star-filled christmas tree in the night sky above a landscape.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Quote with your starry art ✨ From 'Yozora o Miage Yo' 「夜空をみあげよう」#picturebook (Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers, Tokyo) #福音館書店 #kidlitart #kidlitUK #illustration

Illustration in three panels showing a family camping in the country, the evening sky gradually changing from sunset to night sky.

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Back in the groove. I gave away or sold all my records & DJ equipment when I left Japan, but recently took the plunge again, currently rebuilding an all-vinyl collection. All analogue, no digital!

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Quote with your yellow art! 💛 The mermaid's dance, from the #HansAndersen story 'The Little Mermaid' 'Ningyohime' 人形姫 (Hyoronsha Publishing, Tokyo) #kidlitart #kidlitUK #illustration

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Some more recent scribbles on the train to London - clouds, pylons, people. #sketchbook #trainsketching

pen drawing sketch of clouds from a train window

pen drawing sketch of an English landscape with an electric pylon from a train window

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Hello Brian, what an inspiring theme, thank you for sharing the call-out! Here's a few wintery samples from previous book commissions. Website is johnshelley.com

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

この夏、韮崎にあるシャトレーゼホテルで、フィールドバレエによる野外公演『シンデレラ』が開催されました。この公演のシーゾンに合わせて、僕の絵本（1996年初版）から選ばれたイラストが、ホテル内の客室や会場を彩りました。古い作品が新たな観客に出会うのは素晴らしいことです。前の作品に新たな観客がみつけた！#シンデレラ #絵本 #バレエ #イラスト #韮崎

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John Shelley - Illustrator @studionib.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

This summer, Châteraisé Hotel in Nirasaki #Japan hosted a Field Ballet open-air production of #Cinderella. To accompany the season, illustrations from my PB retelling (published in 1996) were chosen to adorn the rooms and locations in the hotel. A new audience for older work! #kidlitART #KidkitUK

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