Con Chrisoulis

Con Chrisoulis is a Senior Lecturer in Commercial Art & Illustration at the School of Arts and Creative Industries, Teesside University. He is an accomplished academic and graphic novelist with over two decades of professional experience, merging artistic practice with historical, ethnographical, and sociological research methodologies. His work centers on the innovative use of comics as a medium for biographical and cultural storytelling.

His research interests lie at the intersection of visual arts, biography, and cultural history. Using tools from ethnography and sociology, Chrisoulis reconstructs historical narratives through sequential art, particularly in the form of graphic biographies. His primary focus includes the lives of cultural icons such as David Bowie, Jack Kirby, and Morrissey, as well as personal family histories like those explored in Dryland. He actively experiments with digital formats, publishing his works as webcomics before print release.

The trends in his recent publications reflect a deep engagement with music history, British comics culture, and visual storytelling. His works consistently explore themes of identity, legacy, and cultural memory, primarily through the lens of graphic biography and autobiographical illustration. The sequential art format allows him to blend factual research with creative expression, making complex narratives accessible and visually compelling.

• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PgCLTHE), Teesside University (2020)
• Master of Research (MRes) in Arts and Cultural Research, University of Brighton (2015)
• BA (Hons) Graphic Design, University of Brighton (2014)
• ISCED Level 4 in Film Editing, IEK Haidariou (2010)

Chrisoulis has made significant contributions to academic and public discourse through his publications and media appearances. He has been featured in international media outlets such as ITV News, MTV, and HiLobrow, discussing both his creative process and broader topics in comics culture. He has also contributed to academic conferences and peer-reviewed publications, particularly on the methodology behind his graphic biographies. While no formal grants or awards are listed, his sustained output and public engagement demonstrate a strong research profile.

He is actively involved in creative and scholarly communities, often discussing the role of comics in education and historical representation. His work bridges the gap between academic research and public-facing art, making him a key figure in the evolving field of visual biography and digital storytelling.