John James Shaw [commonly known as John J. Shaw and as J. J. Shaw] was born in Marylebone, Middlesex [now London], England on 13 February 1850. He was active as an architect and interior decorator in London from the 1880s to early 1900s. He exhibited on several occasions at the Royal Academy in London between 1885 and 1904. He also participated in the 1st exhibition of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society at the New Gallery in London in 1888 at which he showed a design for the decoration of a drawing room.
His address was given as Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire in 1880 and 1885; 105 Hungerford Road, London in 1895; Bell Street, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire in 1901; and 150 Camden Road, London in 1904. He is thought to have died in Berkshire in 1909, however, this has not been confirmed.