P. J. Lynch

Lynch was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1962 as the youngest of five children to a Catholic family.{{cite web|url=https://aislingbeecher.weebly.com/pj-lynch.html|title=P.J. Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Aisling Beecher|access-date=2021-10-17}}{{cite web|url=https://www.walker.co.uk/contributors/P.J.-Lynch-1626.aspx|title=P.J. Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Walker|access-date=2021-10-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hodderchildrens.co.uk/-p-j-lynch_profile.htm|title=PJ Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Hodder Children's Books|access-date=2008-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216191809/http://www.hodderchildrens.co.uk/-p-j-lynch_profile.htm|archive-date=2012-02-16}} His mother's family was from Dunloy, County Antrim and the family often spent their summers there. Lynch was interested in art from an early age and spent his free time drawing on any scrap of paper he could find.{{cite web|url=https://www.candlewick.com/authill.asp?b=Author&m=bio&id=1626&pix=y|title=Bios: P.J. Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Candlewick Press|access-date=2021-10-17}} He credits one of his three brothers, Denis, as who inspired him to start drawing. He recalls that Belfast during The Troubles was a "scary" place for a teenager, 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."

As a child, he thought his drawing skills could be applied to a career in architecture but lost interest in his early teens. He attended St. Malachy's College for secondary school. Both his parents were very supportive of his decision to pursue art school.{{cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/pj-lynch-children-laureate-3013222-Oct2016/|title=Meet the man who's helping Irish children embrace their artistic sides|date=2016-10-09|publisher=The Journal|access-date=2021-10-18}} and he continued on to Brighton College of Art, where he was tutored by Raymond Briggs.{{cite web|url=http://www.achuka.co.uk/archive/interviews/pjsg.php|title=ACHUKA's Special Gust #6 P.J. Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Achuka|access-date=2021-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321234731/http://www.achuka.co.uk/archive/interviews/pjsg.php|archive-date=2016-03-21}}{{cite journal |last1=Heil|first1=Lillian H.|date=1998|title=P. J. Lynch: the Artist Who Fills Stories with Magic|url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1703&context=cbmr|journal=Children's Book and Media Review|volume=19|issue=2|pages=3–4|access-date=2021-10-17}} At the time, Briggs headed the illustration department and encouraged Lynch to pursue a career as an illustrator, which he did upon graduating in 1984.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/pj-lynch-and-the-man-who-fell-to-water-1.2411653|title=PJ Lynch and the man who fell to water|date=2015-11-02|last=Keating|first=Sara|publisher=The Irish Times|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/pj-lynch-announced-as-laureate-na-n%C3%B3g-by-president-michael-d-higgins-1.2649388|title=PJ Lynch announced as Laureate na nÓg by President Michael D Higgins|last=Doyle|first=Martin|date=2016-05-17|publisher=The Irish Times|access-date=2021-10-17}}

Lynch's first illustrated book was A Bag of Moonshine by Alan Garner (1986), a collection of folklore tales from England and Wales.{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-385-29517-8|title=A Bag of Moonshine|date=n.d.|publisher=Publishers Weekly|access-date=2021-10-18}} In 1987, he was presented with the Mother Goose Award,{{cite journal |last1=Eccleshare|first1=Julia|date=1996|title=NORTHERN LIGHTS AND CHRISTMAS MIRACLES|url=http://www.booksforkeeps.co.uk/issues/100/27899|journal=Books for Keeps|issue=100|access-date=2008-09-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625040534/http://www.booksforkeeps.co.uk/issues/100/27899|archive-date=2009-06-25}} which recognises the "most exciting newcomer to British children's book illustration."{{cite journal|author=Bookbird Staff|date=2010|title=P. J. Lynch: Ireland Illustrator

|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/376601|journal=Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature|volume=48|issue=2|access-date=2021-10-18}} Since then, folklore and other traditional stories, legends, and fairytales, have been regular subjects in his work.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/may/17/pj-lynch-irelands-childrens-laureate-na-nog|title=PJ Lynch is Ireland's new children's laureate|last=Drabble|first=Emily|date=2016-05-17|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.moonshadowecommerce.com/WEBLOG-NAME/Featured_Author/2007/10/101407_pj_lynch.html|title=P.J. Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Through the Magic Door|access-date=2008-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714114057/http://blog.moonshadowecommerce.com/WEBLOG-NAME/Featured_Author/2007/10/101407_pj_lynch.html|archive-date=2011-07-14}}

Susan Wojciechowski's book The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey has been considered a Christmas classic{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/life/books/2015/12/19/clara-martin-christmas-miracle-jonathan-toomey/77267482/|title=Clara Martin: The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey|last=Martin|first=Clara|date=2015-12-19|publisher=Clarion Ledger|access-date=2021-10-18}} since selling out within three weeks of its first publication in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://catholiccourier.com/articles/fame-finds-catholic-author/|title=Fame finds Catholic author|last=Kotlarz|first=Amy|date=2007-01-08|publisher=Catholic Courier|access-date=2021-10-18}} Lynch initially turned down the opportunity to illustrate the book, afraid he would not do it justice, but later changed his mind. He dedicated himself so deeply to the story that he hired actors to help create a world he could put on paper. The book won both Lynch's first Kate Greenaway Medal{{cite web|url=https://cwagency.co.uk/client/p-j-lynch/work/the-christmas-miracle|title=The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey|date=n.d.|publisher=CW Agency|access-date=2021-10-18}} and his first Christopher Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/book/?isbn=9780763678227|title=The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey|date=n.d.|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=2021-10-18}} According to WorldCat, more than 3,096 member libraries worldwide own at least one copy of Jonathan Toomey.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n86-082213/|title=Lynch, Patrick James|date=n.d.|publisher=Worldcat|access-date=2021-10-18}}

Lynch won his second Greenaway Medal in 1997 and his second Christopher Award in 1998 for illustrating When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest.{{cite web|url=https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/1735/|title=When Jessie Came Across the Sea|date=n.d.|publisher=Diverse Families Bookshelf|access-date=2021-10-18}} His third Christopher Award came from Grandad's Prayers of the Earth by Douglas Wood in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.powells.com/book/-9780763646752|title=Grandad's Prayers of the Earth|date=n.d.|publisher=Powell's|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/20359/grandads-prayers-of-the-earth|title=Grandad's Prayers of the Earth|last=Brussat|first=Frederick|last2=Brussat|first2=Mary Ann|date=n.d.|publisher=Spirituality and Practice|access-date=2021-10-18}} In 2014, he won the Bisto Book of the Year Honour Award for Illustration for Mysterious Traveller by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham.{{cite web|url=https://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/Mysterious-Traveller-9781406337075|title=Mysterious Traveller|date=n.d.|publisher=Walker Books|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/services/book-promos/childrens_book_awards.htm|title=Award Winning Books for Children|date=n.d.|publisher=Clare County Library|access-date=2021-10-18}} He has also been nominated twice (2010, 2014) for the Hans Christian Andersen Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=962|title=2010 Andersen candidates|date=2009|publisher=International Board on Books for Young People|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2013/05/15/press-release-fun-2014-hans-christian-andersen-award-nominees-released/|title=Press Release Fun: 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award Nominees Released|date=2013-05-15|last=Bird|first=Elizabeth|publisher=Fuse 8 Production|access-date=2021-10-18}} In 2016, he was named the fourth Laureate na nÓg, following Siobhan Parkinson, Niamh Sharkey, and Eoin Colfer.{{cite web|url=https://childrensbooksireland.ie/childrens-books-ireland-celebrates-20-years/|title=Children's Books Ireland Celebrates 20 Years|date=2017-05-11|publisher=Children's Books Ireland|access-date=2021-10-18}}

Lynch has worked in a number of areas other than illustrations for children's books, including creating posters for Opera Ireland{{cite web |url=http://www.illustratorsireland.com/index.php/events/fullstory/awards2004/|title=Illustrators Ireland Awards 2004|date=2004-12-10|publisher=Illustrators Ireland|access-date=2008-09-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514002350/http://www.illustratorsireland.com/index.php/events/fullstory/awards2004/|archive-date=2008-05-14}} and for the Abbey Theatre's 2016 production of The Importance of Being Earnest.{{cite web|url=https://ireland.ie/life-culture/stories/the-big-picture.php|title=The Big Picture|date=n.d.|publisher=this is Ireland|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pjlynchgallery.com/posters/attachment/the-importance-of-being-earnest-poster-post/|title=THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST POSTER POST|date=2016-11-24|publisher=PJ Lynch|access-date=2021-10-18}} He has designed a number of stamps for An Post, including Christmas sets and individual stamps inspired by books such as Gulliver's Travels and The Happy Prince.{{cite web|url=https://www.posteurop.org/StampCollections?selectedStampYear=&selectedStampCountry=ie|title=EUROPA Collections|date=2021|publisher=Post Europ|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/an-post-irish-book-awards-give-man-booker-winner-stamp-of-approval-1.3675717?|title=An Post Irish Book Awards give Man Booker winner stamp of approval|last=Doyle|first=Martin|date=2018-10-25|publisher=The Irish Times|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstamps.ie/IrishStamps/downloads/CollectorsNewsIssue14.pdf|title=IRISH STAMPS Collectors News|date=2006|publisher=Irish Stamps Collectors News|access-date=2008-09-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114021644/http://www.irishstamps.ie/IrishStamps/downloads/CollectorsNewsIssue14.pdf|archive-date=2007-01-14}} He was commissioned by Cavan County Library for two large oil paintings inspired by Gulliver's Travels to hang in their entrance.{{cite web|url=https://librarybuildings.info/ireland/johnston-central-library-cavan-library-hq|title=Johnston Central Library & Cavan Library HQ|date=2006|publisher=Library Buildings|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=http://olivestack.com/juror/|title=Jurors|date=n.d.|publisher=Olive Stack Gallery|access-date=2021-10-18}} As with Jonathan Toomey, Lynch acted out the characters in his library paintings to get a better sense of their world.{{cite web|url=https://howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.com/p-j-lynch-story-illustration-a-z/|title=P.J. Lynch: Story Illustration A-Z|last=Michell|first=Mark|date=2012-06-02|publisher=This Way That Way Drawing|access-date=2021-10-18}} In 2020, he designed a 14 metre by 14 metre, 1.5 million-piece mosaic featuring the Virgin Mary for Knock Basilica in County Mayo.{{cite web|url=https://www.tektonministries.org/new-mosaic-unveiled-knock-basilica/|title=New Mosaic Unveiled at Knock Basilica|last=Sontag|first=Richard|date=2020-06-04|publisher=Tekton Mininstries|access-date=2021-10-18}}

Lynch also lectures and holds workshops at galleries (e.g., the National Gallery of Ireland), conferences, events (e.g., Irish Film Institute's Family Festival), and colleges (e.g., the Long Room at Trinity College Dublin.{{cite web|url=https://www.artscouncil.ie/Interviews/Literature/P_J_-Lynch/|title=P.J. Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Arts Council of Ireland|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2017/1010/911355-the-laureate-na-nog-writes-from-the-aras-to-the-ploughing/|title=The Laureate na nÓg writes - from the Aras to the ploughing!|last=Lynch|first=PJ|date=2017-10-11|publisher=RTE|access-date=2021-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://ifi.ie/irish-film-institute-announces-its-2017-ifi-family-festival/|title=IRISH FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES ITS 2017 IFI FAMILY FESTIVAL|date=2017-07-19|publisher=Irish Film Institute|access-date=2021-10-18}} As Laureate na nÓg, he hosted a video podcast series called The Big Picture! featuring drawing techniques.{{cite web|url=https://littleisland.ie/the-big-picture-with-laureate-na-nog-pj-lynch/|title=A Drop in the Ocean – The Little Island Blog|last=Colfer|first=Eoin|date=2016-05-26|publisher=Little Island|access-date=2021-10-18}} In 2019, he was commissioned by the Royal Mint to design the Year of the Rat (2020) coin in the Mint's Shēngxiào Collection.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50971500|title=Belfast artist PJ Lynch designs Chinese New Year coin|date=2020-01-02|publisher=BBC|access-date=2021-10-18}} In 2021, he was again chosen to create a coin, this time featuring a woman of colour; he chose to draw Britannia as a Black woman.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/loose-change-why-irish-artist-pj-lynch-drew-a-black-britannia-for-royal-mint-m5qxcxlfd|title=Loose change: why Irish artist PJ Lynch drew a black Britannia for Royal Mint|last=Shortall|first=Eithne|date=2021-03-21|publisher=The Times|access-date=2021-10-18}}

Despite not initially being interested in writing, Lynch has published two books: The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, or John Howland's Good Fortune (2015) and The Haunted Lake (2020).{{cite web|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/the-haunted-lake-pj-lynch|title=This Irish author's new children's book is perfect for lovers of Irish folklore|date=2020-10-20|publisher=Irish Central|access-date=2021-10-18}}

Lynch illustrates using mainly watercolors and gouache and illustrations are considered painterly. They are typically colorful, detailed, and realistic, and are lauded for their "exceptional range of texture and colour" Each of Lynch's works begins with him reading and rereading the story until he gets a sense of what he wants to draw; he then produces rough sketches that he can later polish and turn into a final product.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/rich-in-detail-deep-in-meaning/|title=Rich in Detail, Deep in Meaning|last=Schutte|first=Sarah|date=2020-06-19|publisher=National Review|access-date=2021-10-18}} He tries to avoid using too many digital programs "in case they get too slick" and, while he already has a distinctive, traditional style, he is open to trying new techniques such as the "charcoal and chalk rubbing" he did for The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower.

Research plays a large part in Lynch's creative process and he has been known to act out or hire actors to play characters in the story so he can get a visual sense of the scene he wants to capture. Historical accuracy and cultural respect are important enough to him that, while illustrating Jessie Came Across the Sea, he consulted the Jewish Museum in New York City to ensure he was correctly depicting Jewish immigrant life. For stories centering on humans, Lynch often relies on photographs and his actors wearing historically accurate garb to help visualise body language, but rarely uses this method when working with fairytales and folklore.{{cite web|url=https://www.scribblersfestival.com.au/blog/artist-interview-pj-lynch|title=Artist interview: PJ Lynch|date=n.d.|publisher=Scribblers Festival|access-date=2021-10-18}}

Lynch was influenced by Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac in his early years, and later Maxfield Parrish, NC Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Alan Lee, Gennady Spirin, and Brian Selznick.{{cite web|url=https://dublin2019.com/paint-picture-pj-lynch-mastering-classic-style/|last=McGann|first=Oisin|title=Paint Me a Picture: PJ Lynch: Mastering the Classic Style|date=2017-03-12|publisher=Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon|access-date=2021-10-18}}

Lynch and his three children live in Dublin. His second cousin is playwright Martin Lynch.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/meet-the-belfast-man-who-has-designed-stamps-created-europes-biggest-mosaic-and-illustrated-bestselling-books-35451250.html|title=Meet the Belfast man who has designed stamps, created Europe's biggest mosaic and illustrated bestselling books|date=2017-02-15}}

{{Portal bar |Children's literature |Philately |Visual arts}}

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• {{LCAuth|n86082213|P. J. Lynch|29|ue}}

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{{s-bef |before=Eoin Colfer }}

{{s-ttl |title=Laureate na nÓg |years=2016–2018 }}

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Category:Alumni of the University of Brighton

Category:Irish children's book illustrators

Category:Irish illustrators

Category:Kate Greenaway Medal winners

Category:Irish stamp designers

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:Artists from Belfast

Category:Illustrators from Northern Ireland

Category:Artists from Northern Ireland

Category:Painters from Northern Ireland