John O'Reilly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

O’Reilly, John (1975–) is a graphic designer and illustrator.

John O’Reilly was born and raised in Wellington. After completing his Bachelor of Design at the Victoria University of Wellington, he worked within the creative design industry. O’Reilly spent several years in London working as a creative director at various interactive design companies. When he returned to New Zealand in 2004, he established Flightless Ltd, a small, personalised studio specialising in interactive design.

O’Reilly made his first foray into picture book illustration alongside Ali Teo in 2006, with Kiss Kiss, Yuck Yuck! (Scholastic, 2006) written by Kyle Mewburn. Kiss Kiss, Yuck Yuck! won Picture Book and Children’s Choice categories of the 2007 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and was listed as a 2007 Storylines Notable Picture Book.

Tahi: One Lucky Kiwi (Random House, 2007) written by Melanie Drewery and co-illustrated by Ali Teo, won the Picture Book section in the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. The work was also listed as a 2008 Storylines Notable Picture Book.

Duck’s Stuck, written by Kyle Mewburn (Scholastic NZ, 2008) is his most recent publication. This was nominated in the Picture Book section of the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Melu, written by Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly was published by Scholastic in 2012. Melu was a finalist in the 2013 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards in the Picture Book category, and won the Children's Choice award in the same year. Ko Meru, the reo Māori edition, won the Te Kura Pounamu Award, for a distinguished contribution to literature written in Te Reo Māori, at the 2013 LIANZA Children's Book Awards.

MEDIA LINKS AND CLIPS

• John O'Reilly's company's site - Flightless