Some more critters for your delight or fright!

Here are a few more critters I created for the German fantasy Roleplaying publisher Uhrwerk Verlag! Some nice descriptions that I could get my teeth right into!

Artwork created in photoshop!

Thanks for looking!

Fantasy Illustration for Rock Band Wulf of Collision EP cover

Now and again I get to do something a little different from the 'normal' fantasy illustration work I tend to create! This illustration was created for Wulf of Collision's 2015 EP Between Here and Somewhere Else. I created the illustration based upon the title track lyrics!

I also designed the whole cd package. I've included pictures of the Ep cover and logo I designed for the band!

Thanks for looking!

https://www.facebook.com/Wulf.of.Collision/

Creature design for RPG monster book

A while back I posted some creatures I designed for an RPG monster manual by the German publisher Uhrwerk Verlag! This little critter escaped me, so here is...The Zagirr!!!

Star Wars - The Force Awakens

What did you think of the Force Awakens???

Do not read any further incase of unintentional spoilers!

I grew up with Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. They were a huge influence on me,fond memories and times! They influenced me in my art and creature creation, I suppose I was drawn into the overall creativity of the practical effects, creatures, acting etc. It really rubbed off on me from an early age. I remember making a Darth Vader costume. I made the helmet from cardboard and the eye sockets from old goggles. I made a control panel for my chest and a cape out of a black bin liner. I then went over to the video store where the "real" Darth Vader was making an appearance. I can only imagine it to be for the release of Return of The Jedi. The video store gave me a movie poster from the film for my effort, which I still have! I really thought I looked like Darth Vader that day haha!

I have tried to watch episode I, II and III and have never wanted to revisit them. They are a smudge of CGI and chaos for me, no space no place to breath! CGI can be marvellous and practical if used wisely and in the right places, something which is not evident for me in these films.

Now onto 'The Force Awakens'........

Many people are saying it is better or as good as the original 3! I have to disagree with that statement! Having said that, the whole package of the film came across much better than Episode I, II and III for sure but not the original Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

The Force Awakens was a nice movie in its own right. They did use some practical effects but still included CGI in a few places that did not work for me! This was very apparent in one of the main creature characters called Maz Kanata! They really should have used practical effects in my humble opinion! On the other side of the coin, some of the battle scenes especially including spacecraft worked very well. This is an example of it also being practical and used to maximum potential!

A big disappointment was the storyline. It seemed to be nothing new, like the storyline mirrored the Star Wars story line. Also at times it was like the director was introducing the old characters, "here's Chewbacca and now Han Solo has entered the building". I imagine they are reintroducing us and wetting the appetite, but still...

Like I say, I did enjoy the movie but it comes no where near to the first original three that were made: Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, at least for me personally.

Does this matter, no not really. I was never under the assumption that it would be comparable. For that to happen it would need to be have created in the late 70's / early 80's! The actors, actresses artists, director all influenced by those times and involved at the ages they were, when they had the hunger and the explosion of creativity, creating techniques and working out solutions to bring us these spectacular never been seen before special FX. The creatives in the films were pretty much left to their own imagination.

Now everything is at our fingertips and easy.

My conclusion is, I liked 'The Force Awakens'.  It had breathing space and some great scenes and some nice characters/creations. The story was heavily influenced by the Star Wars Storyline, which made it quite unoriginal in my eyes. You can easily compare the two and tick the box. I will buy the Blu-ray and I hope they include a lot of extra behind the scenes footage and insights!

All the above is just my humble opinion.

Below are a couple of links to behind the scenes videos for Star Wars and The Force Awakens.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment!

Ghastly creature illustrations, it's MONSTER TIME!!!!

| recently completed some work for the German RPG Publisher Uhrwerk Verlag and their RPG manual series called Splittermond! This time is was for a soon to be released book called Bestien & Ungeheuer.

More images to come soon;)

Thanks for looking!!!!

Illustrations for fantasy creature field guides published by Capstone Press.

It's been a while since I updated with some new work! Here are characters I created for the Fantasy Field Guide series by Capstone Press.

I created 2 creatures for each of the following books from a 4 book series:

A field guide to Elves, Dwarves, and other Magical folk.
A field guide to Dragons, Trolls, and other Dangerous Monsters.
A field Guide to Goblins, Gremlins and other Wicked Creatures.

http://www.capstonepub.com/library/search/?series-property=Fantasy+Field+Guides

Here's two of the 6 creatures I created. Check back soon for more!

All work Capstone press © 2014

The sword of King Arthur

Here's a nice little project I completed in the form of King Arthur's sword!

Zombie hoard sketch.

Here is a sketch created for project I'm involved with at the moment!

As you can see it depicts a zombie hoard. Make sure you have a good look a round the image, quite a few details to see + a few secrets in there!

Pencil on paper.

Thanks for viewing!

Fantasy sword design

Wow, it has been a while since my last post. My last posts have consisted of quite a few creatures  I illustrated for the 'Book of Beasts'.  Here is something a little different. This is a fantasy sword concept I have designed and illustrated for a project! Keep your eyes peeled for more posts from this project!

I also have a few zombies hobbling this way, should arrive in a few days!!!

My work featured in ImagineFX fantasy and SC-FI digital art magazine

And here it is, my work featured in the awesome Imaginefx magazine! Still can not believe it! I was also lucky enough to have a few comments said about my work by the Editor! 

I highly recommend artists to send their work in! Both digital and traditional media are accepted. This magazine gives you the chance of some great exposure.

Books of Beasts Mummy Sketch.

Here's the original Mummy sketch I created for the 'Book of Beasts' earlier in the year. Nothing changed much from the sketch to the final full colour version which I will post soon!

Created with good old fashioned pencil and paper!

Werewolf

Been a while since I have posted. Had lots of work and some nice projects to complete. I basically had to nail myself to my chair and work, work and work! Luckily I love what I do!

So here is a werewolf from the children's 'Book of Beasts' I illustrated. Check out earlier posts to find out more about this book and see more creatures!

Thanks for looking!

Book of Beasts released by Ticktock books on Amazon.

Hi folks,

the children's 'Book of Beasts' for which I designed and illustrated all the main creatures has been released. You can view part of the book and see some new creatures here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1848988966

What you waiting for...go and check it out!!!!  Better still buy a copy;)

Book of Beasts - Creature taster, Ticktock books.

Here are a few creatures from the 'Book of Beasts' Children's book which I worked on for Octopus books/Ticktock books. I was lead creature/character artist. There was also another artist involved who illustrated battle scenes for each chapter.

The book comes out at the start of October 2013, not long now! Bloody excited!!!

Official webpage to purchase book: http://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781848988965

Here I present a Troll, Dark Elf, Jotun Frost giant, Black Shuck, Draugr and beast.

Thanks for viewing!

Private character commission of a bassist and fan of Iron Maiden.

I recently had another fun project which was to illustrate a friend of mine. He didn't actually know about it, it was another family member who commissioned me for his birthday....so all the more fun! He is a bassist and one of the bands he is a big fan of is Iron Maiden.

I pondered on this one a little while and decided to do something with Eddie from Iron Maiden and also the devil. See below for the outcome!

Created in Photoshop!

New Harry Potter movie: Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them!! Come to me and I will design you some!

Anyone hear That JK Rowling is writing the script for a film based on the textbook Harry Potter and friends study back in Hogwarts! This is going to be in conjunction with Warner Bros Entertainment. Apparently set in the Potter universe although many years before the existence of young Harry!

Really exciting news, what a subject and project to be involved with. I would love to involved in such a  project designing the creatures. If anyone is listening or reading this including JK Rowling or Warner Bros Entertainment, give me a contact....we can make fantastic beasts together! From Goblins to dragons to werewolves you name it I'm your man!

Book of beasts published by Tick Tock / Octopus Publishing

Here is the official press release for the 'Book of Beasts' from Tick tock /Octopus publishing that I worked on as lead character/creature artist! Can't wait for receiving my hard copy! You can see some of my creatures in the press release below!

Thanks for viewing!

New 'Book of Beasts' being published by Octopus Publishing containing my artwork.

I am happy and excited to announce this new book being published by Octopus Publishing containing my artwork which comes out on October 7th this year!

I designed and created all the main character beast artwork throughout the book. There are a also a couple of other artists who created battle scenes and spot illustrations.

It was a really cool project to illustrate, lots of wonderful creatures for me to get stuck into and let my imagination run wild. On the front you can see a Draugr, Krampus and a Zombie. The book is going to cost £9.99. Official link below:

http://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/OctopusPublishingGroup/books/detail.page?isbn=9781848988965

Here's a little character commission I did for a private client recently. I had a little bit of fun with it as you can see. Created in Photoshop!

Warrior Viking axe

First an apology, it has been a long while since I have posted something. Truth is I have been tied up in a huge project since the middle of last year. Hopefully it will be released in the Autumn and I can then post a selection of that work!

Anyway, here is a new portfolio piece. As well as creatures and humans I love creating items/weapons.   Here is a Bearded axe with Viking influence and a little bit of fantasy. I hope to have some more crazy designs pushing the fantasy button real soon.

As always thanks for looking!