Paul Shipper

Paul Shipper, an acclaimed movie poster artist and illustrator, is celebrated for his iconic key art in film, entertainment, and advertising. Hailing from Manchester, he completed his formal education in 1997 with a BA in Illustration and Animation from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). Since then, Paul has crafted striking illustrative art for movie posters, home entertainment, books, comics, magazines, events, and licensing projects, collaborating with major clients like Amazon, CBS, Disney, Foo Fighters, ITV, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Muse, Netflix, Nike, Penguin Books, Sky TV, Universal, Verizon, and Warner Bros.
Growing up, Paul was captivated by the illustrated film posters adorning cinema lobbies and his bedroom walls, igniting a lifelong passion for their artistry and timeless appeal. Since the mid-to-late 1990s, he has dedicated himself to reviving the nostalgic charm of "old school" illustrated movie posters, extending their influence beyond the cinema while infusing them with a modern sensibility. By blending traditional techniques with digital painting, Paul seamlessly bridges classic and contemporary styles, appealing to a diverse and expanding clientele while remaining true to his retro vision.
Paul’s talent has earned admiration from luminaries in the film industry, including J.J. Abrams, Frank Darabont, Bob Gale, Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, Duncan Jones, Tom Tykwer, and the Wachowskis. His achievements include prestigious honors such as the Key Art Award in 2014 and the LCS Award for Excellence in Illustration in 2015. In 2017, he was named an honorary member of the 501st Legion and UK Garrison for his impactful Star Wars artwork. Further milestones include being the first living illustrator featured in Illustration Magazine (Issue #66, 2019), creating the first illustrated cover art for Empire Magazine’s newsstand issue in 2020, and becoming one of the publication’s inaugural Visual Contributing Editors that same year. His original artworks and prints have been showcased in galleries worldwide, cementing his legacy in the art of illustration.

Clients: Disney, Lucasfilm, Sony, Marvel, Nike, Honda, Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Penguin Books, Random House, Empire Magazine, Shout, Arrow, La-La Land Entertainment, Billboard, Field & Stream, Netflix, Paramount, Roku, Foo Fighters. Daily Wire, Amazon, El Rey Network, CBS, Dolby Cinema, IMAX, Legendary, Edgar Wright, Royal Albert Hall, OMM, Lagavulin, Stan Lee, Verizon, Sky, Vodafone, WHO, Paris St Germain, HBO, NZ Armed Forces, Riot Games, Sports Illustrated, Emirates, Michel LaFon, Ernest Cline, IDW, Turbine Medien, Titan Books, Sideshow Collectibles, Fright Rags, NECA, Fandango, UFC

Testimonials

Skills

Software: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk SketchBook, Corel Painter, Procreate

Associations: Association of Illustrators, Society of Illustrators

Awards: Silver Key Art Award - Illustration, LCS Award