The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Mountwood School for Ghosts cover illustration by Alex T Smith

Toby Ibbotson is the son of award-winning author Eva Ibbotson and Mountwood School for Ghosts is his debut novel about ghosts going to school to learn a thing or two about being scary. The story is based on an idea conceived with Eva, and planned out in detail by the two of them before her death. Alex T Smith was delighted to be commissioned by Macmillan to illustrate this cover along with the reissues of four of Eva's well known children's novels: Which Witch, The Secret of Platform 13, Monster Mission and The Beasts of Clawstone Castle.

Alex T Smith is represented by Arena

Christopher Gibbs Cover Illustration for The Relic Guild

This image is Christopher Gibbs' eye catching cover illustration for Edward Cox's debut fantasy novel,  The Relic Guild, published by Gollancz.

"Young Clara struggles to survive in a dangerous and dysfunctional city, where eyes are keen, nights are long, and the use of magic is punishable by death. She hides in the shadows, fearful that someone will discover she is touched by magic. She knows her days are numbered. But when a strange man named Fabian Moor returns to the Labyrinth, Clara learns that magic serves a higher purpose and that some myths are much more deadly in the flesh. The only people Clara can trust are the Relic Guild, a secret band of magickers sworn to protect the Labyrinth. But the Relic Guild are now too few. To truly defeat their old nemesis Moor, mightier help will be required. To save the Labyrinth – and the lives of one million humans – Clara and the Relic Guild must find a way to contact the worlds beyond their walls."

Chris bumped into Edward at Loncon 3, The World Science Fiction Convention this year - and they got on like a house on fire. Edward's debut is already receiving some great reviews, so we hope it becomes a series!

Christopher Gibbs is represented by Arena

Terry Pratchett Calendar for 2015

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New Fantasy Illustrator: Mélanie Delon

Jonny Duddle: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Bloomsbury have revealed the cover illustration by Jonny Duddle for the second book the famous Harry Potter series by J K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The cover shows the dramatic scene in the chamber itself with Harry facing the basilisk and Ginny Weasley lying on the floor beyond.

 Jonny describes his process in his Q&A from Bloomsbury:

How do you as an artist approach such a large job? Where do you begin with such a wide range of possibilities?

“I’m taking one book at a time. I read the cover brief, and then I read the story, making notes and occasional sketches. I collect references, from my library of non-fiction books, search online and take my own photographs. I’ve recruited my neighbours’ son, who is suitably Potter-esque, although he annoyingly had his slightly wild hair cut for the new school term. I make numerous sketches of the main elements of the cover and then cobble them all together digitally, until I have a cover rough I feel happy to send to Bloomsbury and J.K. Rowling. I hear back very quickly with comments on my rough, which I then tweak or redraw until everyone’s happy for me to progress. Then I ‘paint’ each cover digitally.”

Jonny Duddle is represented by Arena

PO!

Established Argentinian artist Patricio Oliver - known as PO! has joined Phosphor Art adding his great talent and style to our group of highly professional illustrators. He enjoys exploring fantasy worlds which is reflected in his work , and is also an expert in typography and a professor at the university of Buenos Aires. We are delighted to have him on board.

Alejandro Colucci: Nathan Hawke’s Gallow Cover Illustrations

Alejandro Colucci's powerful illustrations take centre stage on the covers of Nathan Hawke's Gallow series. Gollancz have made the bold move to publish the covers without a title or author's name, concentrating on the hero of the story in action. The Crimson Shield is Nathan’s debut book and the first of three fast-paced historical fantasies.

Alejandro Colucci is represented by Arena

Christopher Gibbs: How To Train Your Dragon: Cover Designs

Christopher Gibbs is the cover illustrator behind the popular How To Train Your Dragon Series, written by Cressida Cowell. Commissioned by Hodder Children's Books, he was given the technical challenge to take the author's own sketches and interpret them into his own by using traditional painting methods and then adding textures digitally.  How To Betray a Dragon's Hero, was published recently and is the ninth book in the series, illustrated by Chris.

Christopher Gibbs is represented by Arena

PICTURA: A New Range of Art Books to Colour and Collect

Arena Illustration are thrilled to be involved in PICTURA, the launch of a brand new range of art books to colour in and collect, published this month by Templar.

“There are dragons everywhere. There are dragons in the clouds, in trees and waves, and dragons carved in stone, and guarding gold in caverns old, in stories waiting to be told…” and we see these brought to life through the eight panels in hisDRACONIS.

John Howe is represented by Arena