Anthony Shapland grew up in Bargoed, South Wales. He is a writer and artist, and founder of g39, an artist-led space in Cardiff. His short story 'Foolscap' was shortlisted for the Rhys Davies Award and he was selected for the 2023 Hay Writers at Work programme. A Room Above a Shop is his debut novel. Working in collaboration with artist and author Esyllt Angharad Lewis, Shapland also published a Welsh translation of the work in 2025 under the title Lan Stâr.