Book cover illustration before digital

In a previous life, before digital took over the publishing world, I made a living illustrating book and magazine covers. Initially I used traditional paint media, hand painted. Later, as the demand for more photographic covers grew I used an airbrush with water colour, or acrylic inks. I really enjoyed the process of reading the book, or manuscript if it was a new title, and then working on visual ideas for the book cover. Once I had three or four ideas I would send off pencil sketches to the art director at the publishers. The art director would make suggestions and then approve the idea to be worked up as the cover image.

I still occasionally illustrate covers, and although the final artwork is now digital, I still generate the initial ideas with a pencil on paper.

To see more examples of my illustrations for book and magazine covers click here: Book Cover Illustration Gallery.