Born in Milan in 1957, Gianni De Conno continues to live and work in Milan.

After his artistic studies and the specialization in background and cartoons near the Milano School of the Cinema, Gianni has begun to work as a background artist and illustrator for the advertising and the publishing field.

In 1990 Gianni received the Gold Plate of Italian Illustrators Annual, in 1998, 2000 and 2001 the Communication Arts Award of Excellence, in 2002 the Stepan Zavrel prize for Children's Illustrator and the Silver Medal of the President of the Italian Republic for artistic merits.

Gianni De Conno is teaching in the main schools of illustration. He has illustrated and published numerous books for children.