About
The pandemic offered new muses: prime ministers as animals, Easter bunnies with attitude, and other playful visions of a world paused yet persistent. Each drawing a reminder that humour, wit, and careful observation can turn even a sketch into a statement.
Now, John introduces Oddubon’s - a celebration of birds in all their feathered glory. With pen, ink, and marker, he captures the elegance, the audacity, and the occasional cheeky glance of the avian world. Each piece is a blend of precision, whimsy, and love for the natural world—a place where the eye catches every line and the mind delights in every detail.
Whether you’ve followed his journey from comic books to band stages, or you’re just discovering the mischief in his ink, John’s work invites you to pause, look closely, and maybe even chuckle.
Because art, like life, is best savoured with a keen eye and a wry smile.
John Shirreff has been making marks on the world for decades - sometimes literal, sometimes metaphorical. Born in the 1950s, he grew up in a comic book universe of superheroes and bold lines, which seeded a lifelong fascination with storytelling through image.
Over the years, his art wandered through medieval tapestries, mystical visions, Art Deco flourishes, and the modern world’s rhythms. Along the way, he led a Canadian band, Breeding Ground, proving he could hit the high notes in both music and imagination.
The Artist in Print
When the pandemic paused the world, John turned his pen to politics - reimagining Canadian prime ministers as animals.
This creative feature was highlighted on CTV News.
