Meet the Team

Financial Director Sarah Prince

New to the world of comics, Sarah, joined us as Finance Director in our first year of Comics Salopia back in 2018. Being ACCA qualified and from the world of finance for a local company, Sarah draws on her 10+ years of experience and knowledge which helped set up our accounting systems and pave the way for our festival planning. 
 
Although her initial role comprised of overseeing the festival finances, you may have spotted her around Shrewsbury Town promoting as Gamora with the Jaguator and even at the 2019 festival itself as Supergirl on the cover of the County Times with her wonderfully supportive partner, Lee, and dober-pup, Archer…AKA Superdog (or Krypto to the comics fans)! 
   
Going forwards, Sarah now takes on the full director mantle and is looking forward to becoming enveloped into the world of comics. Whilst her interests have been more on the film side, she is embracing comic art and is fascinated by the different artists’ techniques and portrayals of well known characters, (particularly the strong female characters!) most commonly seen on the big screen. Her passions lie in raising awareness of comics but, most importantly, in getting the community involved. In particular, focusing on encouraging young and female readership and emphasising that anybody, absolutely anybody, can be involved and enjoy the comic book experience.
Shane Chebsey

Festival Director Shane Chebsey

Born here in Shrewsbury and a regular contributor to the local music scene as part of the band Cosmic Rays along with Charlie Adlard, Shane has been organising successful comic conventions, conferences and festivals since the first Birmingham International Comics Show in 2006 at the historic Custard Factory.

Since then he has gone on to establish world renowned comic art event brands Like Comics Uncovered The International Comic Industry Conference and ICE, which is dubbed Britain’s Coolest Comic Convention.

He has also organised international events in Brighton, Margate and Manchester and brought some of the biggest names in comics to our shores from all over the world for nearly 12 years.

Shane is a staunch supporter of the British small press publishing scene and for over 20 years published comics and Graphic Novels himself under the banner of Scar Comics alongside renowned artist Andrew Richmond. This included the award winning Madam Samurai Graphic Novels written by Empire Award Winning screen Writer Gary Young and illustrated by Eagle Award winning artist David Hitchcock. Shane served as Editor on the books adapting the film screenplay to comic script to great effect.

An artist himself Shane is passionate about supporting the work of other creatives and passionate about bringing the magic of comic art to a wider audience and what better way to do that than through a huge free festival in his beautiful hometown!

Charlie Adlard

Festival Patron Charlie Adlard

The public face of Comics Salopia is the world renowned artist and co creator of The Waking Dead Charlie Adlard.

He is a veteran of the comic industry and has worked for all of the major publishers both here in the UK and overseas including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, 2000AD and – of course – Image Comics, where along with writer Robert Kirkman he co created the Walking Dead which then, with ANC Studios, went on to become a record breaking Hit TV Show entering the homes of millions worldwide.

Over the years he has also worked on some of the world’s most well known characters and franchises including Batman and a huge run on the X-Files for Topps Comics in America.

Born and raised in Shrewsbury, Charlie has a passion not just for his hometown, but for promoting the full potential of the comics medium as both art and literature.

In recognition of his global contribution to the Comics industry, Charlie was made the UK Comics Laureate in 2017, and travelled the country giving talks and presentations in Schools, colleges, universities and libraries extolling the virtues of comics, and the importance of its role in promoting literacy, to many thousands of people.

His work still carries on however, and we are proud that Charlie is now part of the Comics Salopia Team as our Patron.