P. J. Lynch
Encyclopedia
Patrick James Lynch known professionally as P. J. Lynch, is an Irish
artist
and children's book
illustrator
.
__FORCETOC__
, Lynch was the youngest of five children. He was interested in art from an early age, often choosing to spend his free periods during school in the art department. According to Lynch, Belfast was a "scary" place for a teenager in the 1970s (see The Troubles
), and he used drawing and reading as a "way of escaping for a while from the horrors that were happening around me in the real world." He attended the Brighton College of Art, leaving in 1984 to begin his career as a children's book illustrator.
tales from England and Wales entitled A Bag of Moonshine (written by Alan Garner
), was published in 1986. This was the beginning of a recurring theme in Lynch's work; many of his books focus on traditional stories, legends, and fairy tales. For his illustrations in A Bag of Moonshine Lynch received the Mother Goose Award
, given to the "most exciting newcomer to British children's book illustration".
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
(authored by Susan Wojciechowski) tells the story of a gloomy woodcutter who gradually recovers his ability to find joy in life. The book, which was published in 1995, proved to be very popular with sales in the United States
exceeding one million copies. Lynch's illustrations in The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey were lauded for their "exceptional range of texture and colour", and earned him both the Kate Greenaway Medal
as well as the Christopher Medal. James Earl Jones
recorded a Grammy-nominated reading of the book, and a movie based on the book was released in 2007.
. He has illustrated four sets of Christmas stamps for An Post
, as well as other individual stamps. The stamps he has designed have been acclaimed for their "level of detail, mood and emotion", which give them "a vivid life
of their own."
In 2006 Lynch completed work on two large scale murals in oils on the theme of Gulliver's Travels
for the new Cavan County Library
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and children's book
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
.
__FORCETOC__
Early Years
Born in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Lynch was the youngest of five children. He was interested in art from an early age, often choosing to spend his free periods during school in the art department. According to Lynch, Belfast was a "scary" place for a teenager in the 1970s (see The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
), and he used drawing and reading as a "way of escaping for a while from the horrors that were happening around me in the real world." He attended the Brighton College of Art, leaving in 1984 to begin his career as a children's book illustrator.
Book Illustrations
Lynch's first book, a collection of folkloreFolklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
tales from England and Wales entitled A Bag of Moonshine (written by Alan Garner
Alan Garner
With his first book published, Garner abandoned his work as a labourer and gained a job as a freelance television reporter, living a "hand to mouth" lifestyle on a "shoestring" budget...
), was published in 1986. This was the beginning of a recurring theme in Lynch's work; many of his books focus on traditional stories, legends, and fairy tales. For his illustrations in A Bag of Moonshine Lynch received the Mother Goose Award
Mother Goose Award
The Mother Goose Award was a British annual award, presented by Books For Children to "the most exciting newcomer to British children's book illustration." Established in 1979, the award was last given in 1999...
, given to the "most exciting newcomer to British children's book illustration".
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey is a 2007 British film starring Tom Berenger, Joely Richardson, Luke Ward-Wilkinson, Aran Bell, Benjamin Eli and Saoirse Ronan....
(authored by Susan Wojciechowski) tells the story of a gloomy woodcutter who gradually recovers his ability to find joy in life. The book, which was published in 1995, proved to be very popular with sales in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
exceeding one million copies. Lynch's illustrations in The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey were lauded for their "exceptional range of texture and colour", and earned him both the Kate Greenaway Medal
Kate Greenaway Medal
The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
as well as the Christopher Medal. James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
recorded a Grammy-nominated reading of the book, and a movie based on the book was released in 2007.
Other Media
Lynch has created posters for both Opera Ireland and the Abbey TheatreAbbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
. He has illustrated four sets of Christmas stamps for An Post
An Post
An Post is the State-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland. An Post provides a universal postal service to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union...
, as well as other individual stamps. The stamps he has designed have been acclaimed for their "level of detail, mood and emotion", which give them "a vivid life
of their own."
In 2006 Lynch completed work on two large scale murals in oils on the theme of Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver's Travels
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships, better known simply as Gulliver's Travels , is a novel by Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift that is both a satire on human nature and a parody of...
for the new Cavan County Library
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Personal life
Lynch married his wife Barbara on his fortieth birthday. They live in Dublin with their three children.Books
Lynch has illustrated 20 books:- A Bag of Moonshine, by Alan Garner
- Raggy Taggy Toys, by Joyce DunbarJoyce DunbarJoyce Dunbar is an English writer. She primarily writes books for children, and has published over seventy books. Dunbar is perhaps best known for Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go To Sleep, This Is The Star, and the Mouse And Mole series...
- MelisandeMelisandeMelisande can refer to:* Melisande of Jerusalem, the daughter of Baldwin II* Melisande , a painting* Melisande Shahrizai, the primary villainess of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series...
, by E. NesbitE. NesbitEdith Nesbit was an English author and poet whose children's works were published under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television... - Fairy Tales of Ireland, by William Butler YeatsWilliam Butler YeatsWilliam Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms...
- East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon, translated by George W. Dasent
- The Steadfast Tin SoldierThe Steadfast Tin Soldier"The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a tin soldier's love for a paper ballerina. After several adventures, the tin soldier perishes in a fire with the ballerina. The tale was first published in Copenhagen by C.A...
, by Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."... - The Candlewick Book of Fairy Tales, by Sarah Hayes
- The Snow QueenThe Snow QueenThe Snow Queen is a fairy tale by author Hans Christian Andersen . The tale was first published in 1845, and centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Gerda....
, by Hans Christian Andersen - Catkin, by Antonia BarberAntonia BarberAntonia Barber is an English author of the books for children and adults. Barber resides in Kent and Mousehole, Cornwall. Her award winning book, The Mousehole Cat has been made into an animated film and is being adapted as a stage musical. Her real name is Barbara Anthony...
- The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
- The King of Ireland's Son, by Brendan Behan
- When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest
- An ABC Picture Gallery, by P.J. Lynch
- Grandad's Prayers of the Earth, by Douglas Wood
- The Names Upon the Harp: Irish Myth and Legend, by Marie Heaney
- Ignis, by Gina Wilson
- The Bee-Man of Orn, by Frank R. Stockton
- A Christmas CarolA Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
, by Charles DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic... - The Gift of the MagiThe Gift of the Magi"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story written by O. Henry , about a young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money...
by O. HenryO. HenryO. Henry was the pen name of the American writer William Sydney Porter . O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.-Early life:... - Lincoln and His Boys by Rosemary WellsRosemary WellsRosemary Wells is the author of a number of popular children's books, most notably the Max and Ruby series which follows the everyday adventures of sibling bunnies—curious three year old Max and bossy seven year old Ruby. She gets the inspiration for Max and Ruby from her three daughters and the...
(to be published in January 2009)