TOMISLAV TOMIC: MAP FOR ROMANTASY

JOHN HOWE: FANTASTIC VOYAGES

This summer, nearly 150 works; original drawings, paintings and digital pieces, go on display across three iconic heritage sites on the Guérande Peninsula in France, in an exhibition trail running from 20th June to 1st November 2026.

Curated by Diane and Jean-Jacques Launier for CapAtlantique La Baule-Guérande Agglo, the show takes visitors on a journey through the central themes of John Howe’s lifetime body of work: ancient legends, mythical landscapes and fantastic worlds. At the Porte Saint-Michel, the experience takes on a different dimension after dark, when the medieval façade is transformed by a monumental projection, light and imagery conjuring a dreamlike, mythological universe from the stonework itself.

For decades John Howe has been one of the foremost names in fantasy illustration, known above all as a conceptual designer on the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies. Fantastic Voyages is a rare opportunity to experience the full breadth of that extraordinary career in one place.

John Howe is represented by Arena Illustration.

FRANCES CASTLE: WHERE THE TIDE LINES LEAD

Published by Little Tiger Books, Where the Tide Lines Lead is a YA mystery by Sophie Cameron, with a striking wraparound cover by Frances Castle.

Set off the sun-drenched yet shadow-filled Spanish coast, the story follows sixteen-year-old Elio and British tourist Sam as they're pulled into an underwater world of selkie-like creatures after a string of teenagers vanish without a trace. Frances's design spans front to back, capturing the moment where the world we know gives way to something stranger beneath the waves.

It's a cover that makes you feel the pull of the story before you've read a single word - and a striking showcase of Frances Castle’s range across atmosphere-driven illustration.

Frances Castle is represented by Arena Illustration.

ALEKSEI BITSKOFF: TALES OF THE COBB STREET COMMANDOS

Published this month by Faber, Tales of the Cobb Street Commandos is a fact-filled, funny wartime adventure written by Tony Bradman, with cover and internal illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff.

Set in London's East End in 1941, the story follows Jimmy and his friends as they form a top-secret commando unit determined to do their bit for the war effort - training in abandoned warehouses, raising money for Spitfires, and even landing a daring mission to meet Winston Churchill himself.

Aleksei Bitskoff’s energetic line work and instinct for comic timing make the Commandos leap off the page, while his eye for historical detail gives the book its real sense of place and period. Known for his intricate, humorous style, his client list includes the bestselling Little Bad Man and Who Let the Gods Out series.

Aleksei Bitskoff is represented by Arena Illustration.

KRISTYNA LITTEN’S BEARLOCK HOLMES DINOSAUR MYSTERY

Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Dinosaur Fossil, published by Magic Cat Publishing is the eagerly awaited second book in Kristyna's beloved series - this time taking young detectives somewhere altogether more prehistoric.

When a rare dinosaur fossil vanishes from Bearona's remote Jurassic Ridge, Ivy and her grandpa Bearlock face their trickiest case yet. The trail is packed with twists and hidden clues, all woven through with real facts about fossils, evolution and conservation. As with the first book in the series, the story is brought to life with 15 brain-boggling puzzles that invite readers to join the investigation themselves.

What makes Kristyna Litten’s work so special is her ability to blend gripping storytelling with genuine non-fiction content, all rendered in her signature richly detailed, full-colour illustration style. Based in Yorkshire, her work is instantly recognisable and her client list spans from children’s publishing into luxury product branding and television advertising.

Kristyna Litten is represented by Arena Illustration.

BILLY PARTRIDGE: HUPO AND THE DOOM LAGOON

Published this month by Flying Eye Books, Hupo and the Doom Lagoon is the thrilling sequel to Billy's debut graphic novel Hupo and the Wonder Thief, sending young readers back into the dreamlike world of Yip for another breathtaking adventure.

Hupo sets off across Yip in an airship, this time alongside the mysterious Zimmy, a peculiar companion who looks, sounds and smells just like him. Their destination is the Doom Lagoons, where fears can be buried beneath the water forever. But when centuries of trapped horrors are unleashed, it falls to Hupo and the suspicious Zimmy to save everyone - and Hupo must face his very worst fears of all.

With a style that carries echoes of Studio Ghibli, Billy Partridge’s digitally crafted worlds are ethereal, imaginative and full of heart. His exceptional talent for world-building and character creation makes his work a natural fit for publishing, animation and branding alike.

Billy Partridge is represented by Arena Illustration.

STEVE MAY’S COMIC STRIP FOR GRENFELL

Steve May brings his trademark warmth and energy to one of his most meaningful commissions to date, a comic strip, honouring the ongoing work of those supporting adults and children affected by the Grenfell Fire.

Created for the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service, the project began with a two-hour workshop in which Steve worked alongside the community, adults and children together - to find the right way to tell this story. Ideas emerged naturally, including one from a boy who shared a vivid dream about being chased by goblins. That image became the beating heart of the strip: a haunted house filled with emotion monsters - fear, anger, anxiety, trauma, faced down by a young girl hero named Emily, guided through each challenge by Grenfell workers represented as green hearts. The finale sees an art therapist literally paint a door to freedom: a sun-filled green field, a carnival, and everyone reunited.

The result is a piece of illustration with genuine purpose - bold and adventurous in style, yet deeply rooted in the real experiences of the community it celebrates.

Steve May is represented by Arena Illustration.

GAIA ALESSI COVER ILLUSTRATION FOR WIDE EYE

Published by Pushkin Press this month, Gaia's cover and accompanying map bring Jennifer Liss's mystery-adventure to life, drawing readers into the world of ten-year-old Meridian as she hunts for a legendary lake monster while uncovering long-buried family secrets.

Gaia's bold wrap-around cover immerses readers in a sweeping landscape of rolling hills, mountains and a glimmering lake, with Meridian herself keeping watch for the ever-elusive Wide Eye. Alongside the cover, Gaia created an intricate map of Wide Eye Lake. The work was the result of a close collaboration between Gaia, the publisher and the author, with Jennifer Liss supplying photo reference and thoughtful feedback to ensure the world felt both authentic and richly imagined. The finished cover reads as a genuine extension of the story itself - atmospheric, inviting and full of quiet mystery.

Gaia Alessi is represented by Arena Illustration.

LEVI PINFOLD ILLUSTRATES HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

One of illustration's most extraordinary talents has stepped into the wizarding world again, and the results are nothing short of spellbinding. Levi brings his singular vision to the sixth fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling's beloved series, and the first glimpses are breathtaking.

This month we are thrilled to share a first look at Levi's illustrations for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, published by Bloomsbury. Taking up the baton from Jim Kay, Levi has made the world entirely his own - from the silver instruments of Dumbledore's office to the snow-dusted paths of Hogsmeade and the heady atmosphere of Professor Slughorn's Potions class. J.K. Rowling herself has described his work as spellbinding, and it's hard to disagree. The full edition publishes on 6th October 2026, and pre-orders are open now via Bloomsbury with 30% off and an exclusive tote bag featuring the cover.

Levi Pinfold is represented by Arena Illustration.

COSMIC KICKS AND ALIEN TRICKS FROM ALEKSEI

Aleksei Bitskoff blasts onto bookshelves with an uproarious cover for The Galaxy World Cup, a galactic football adventure where underdogs meet aliens and chaos reigns.

Get your boots on and prepare for take-off! Alan Joyce’s The Galaxy World Cup lands courtesy of Chicken House Books with a brilliantly bonkers cover illustration by Aleksei Bitskoff that perfectly captures the madness, humour and interstellar action inside. When a rag-tag team of schoolboys get mistaken for Earth’s greatest players and zapped into the universe’s biggest tournament, Aleksei’s character-rich visuals bring every extraterrestrial oddball and unlikely goal scorer to life - on and off the pitch.

Known for his finely observed line work, imaginative worlds and instinctive sense of comedy, Aleksei’s cover doesn’t just sell the story - it sells the fun. From weird alien spectators to snap-shot moments that feel like they’ve been plucked straight from the game, his art effortlessly invites readers aged 7–11 (and anyone who knows the agony and ecstasy of a last-minute goal) to dive in.

Aleksei Bitskoff is represented by Arena Illustration.