Commissions
Here is a selection of recently commissioned artwork and illustrations I have completed for publishing houses and individual clients. Most excitedly, I was a shortlisted 'Best Artist' for the national 2018 British Fantasy Awards and have now been shortlisted for the 2019 British Fantasy Awards too! Yay!!!!! 
Orchard: A Year in England's Eden
Given my own environmental and conservation interests, I was honoured to be asked to work on this fabulous project and create the internal map illustration for this wonderful book! I worked with the two authors, Benedict MacDonald (who wrote the wonderful re-wilding book 'Re-Birding Britain') and Nick Gates, both of whom are wildlife filmmakers and photographers, who have worked with BBC Springwatch, David Attenborough wildlife documentaries and documentaries around the world. Their book charts the progress of a natural orchard in Herefordshire over the course of a year and all the wildlife that lives in and around it. This ancient orchard which adheres to the practices of the past where agricultural practices work with nature rather than against it like the awful modern agricultural practices of the last 30 years which are so destructive to our environment, biodiversity and wildlife. It was an inspiring project to be a part of on every level and one of my proudest achievements. The hardback of 'Orchard: A Year in England's Eden' was published by HarperCollins in August 2020, and the paperback will be published in June 2021. Cover art by Tom Cabot
Private Commission
I was commissioned by BristolCon to create a surprise secret portrait of one of their 2019 Guests of Honour, brilliant science-fiction writer, Gareth L Powell, to be presented to him during the closing ceremony of BristolCon. I produced a detailed portrait of him from a range of photographs using oil paints on canvas which took just over 4 weeks to complete. Completed October 2019. 
BFS Horizons - Front Cover
I was asked to provide the artwork for the front cover of the BFS (British Fantasy Society) #9 edition magazine/book for the July 2019 issue. 
Private Commission
An original silk painting inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's famous dragon, Smaug on his treasure hoard, from 'The Hobbit'. I created this unique silk painting over many months using gold gutta outliner and specialist silk paints on real Habotai silk, carefully building up the silk paint layers to create the rich vibrant tones you see. Completed April 2019 
The Hunt for the Mad Wolf's Daughter
I was commissioned by Penguin Random House to produce another map for the sequel to The Mad Wolf's Daughter, by Diane Magras - The Hunt For The Mad Wolf's Daughter. Published by Penguin Random House in March 2019. Cover art by Antonio Javier Caparo. 
Private Commission
I was commissioned to create a pet portrait in watercolour, acrylic paint and Caran D'Ache watercolour pencils. Completed December 2018. 
Private Commission
I was commissioned to create a specific painting of an African lion walking away and turning his head back as a symbol of strength and sensitivity/empathy. I used a mixture of watercolour, acrylic paint and Caran D'Ache watercolour pencils to create the effect the client wanted. Completed December 2018. 
Private Commission
A Habotai Silk Suncatcher, 'Winter Woods'. I created a magical silver birch forest using black gutta and specialist silk paints on real silk. Completed November/December 2018 |
|
Mycelium
I was commissioned to create all the artwork for Mycelium, a card game and project used to prime the brain for creativity and innovation. Created and founded by writer and poet Dan Holloway and funded by Oxford University and its Innovation Fund. Mycelium is a revolutionary new tool in the shape of a board/card game and then later an app to help us all become more creative and unlock our potential. It's creator, Dan Holloway is the 2016 and 2017 Creative Thinking World Champion, a novelist and performance poet, and a leading figure in the self-publishing world. Dan's academic research into early modern thought systems as well as 20 years of experience as a competitive creative thinker has influenced every aspect of this project. I was commissioned by Dan and Oxford University to illustrate all 50 individual hand painted images for the Mycelium card game and to illustrate later expansion packs.
Published in October 2018 by Oxford University.
Private Portrait Commission
I was commissioned by Vice-Chair of BristolCon, John Baverstock, to create a surprise secret portrait of one of their 2018 Guests of Honour, brilliant writer extraordinaire, Joanne Hall, to be presented to her during the closing ceremony of BristolCon. I produced a detailed portrait of her from a photograph using oil paints on canvas which took just over 4 weeks to complete.
Completed October 2018.
I was commissioned by Vice-Chair of BristolCon, John Baverstock, to create a surprise secret portrait of one of their 2018 Guests of Honour, brilliant writer extraordinaire, Joanne Hall, to be presented to her during the closing ceremony of BristolCon. I produced a detailed portrait of her from a photograph using oil paints on canvas which took just over 4 weeks to complete.
Completed October 2018.
Far Horizons Magazine - Front Cover
Commissioned to create the front cover for 'Far Horizons', the quarterly sci-fi/fantasy/horror magazine for its August 2018 edition.
Commissioned to create the front cover for 'Far Horizons', the quarterly sci-fi/fantasy/horror magazine for its August 2018 edition.
Private Commission - City of Sorlost
Privately commissioned artwork. This is an illustration of fantasy city, Sorlost (view to the north), as depicted in stunning grimdark debut, 'The Court of Broken Knives' , published by HarperCollins in 2017. I was commissioned to make this by its talented author, fantasy writer Anna Smith-Spark in 2018.
Privately commissioned artwork. This is an illustration of fantasy city, Sorlost (view to the north), as depicted in stunning grimdark debut, 'The Court of Broken Knives' , published by HarperCollins in 2017. I was commissioned to make this by its talented author, fantasy writer Anna Smith-Spark in 2018.
Private Commission - Flower Silk Painting Series
Private commissioned artwork.
Private commissioned artwork.
Green Sky and Sparks Series
Commissioned fantasy world map for the world of Green Sky and Sparks by acclaimed steampunk fantasy author, Kate Coe, published by BFS Award winning independent press, Grimbold Books and their imprint Kristell Ink Publishing in 2019.
The map artwork will be available to view once published.
The Mad Wolf's Daughter
An exciting fantasy debut for middle graders by author Diane Magras. I was commissioned by Penguin Random House to create the fantasy world map for this debut, The Mad Wolf's Daughter.
Published by Penguin Random House in the US on 6th March 2018 and around the world after that!
Cover art by Antonio Javier Caparo.
Still Life - 'Pheasant'
Private commissioned artwork of a male pheasant in full colour. Pen & Ink, acrylic and Caran D'Ache watercolour pencils used with addition of metallic inks and gold leaf. Finished May 2017.
Godblind
One of fantasy’s most anticipated debuts of the year. There was a time when the Red Gods ruled the land. The Dark Lady and her horde dealt in death and blood and fire. That time has long since passed and the neighbouring kingdoms of Mireces and Rilpor hold an uneasy truce. The only blood spilled is confined to the border where vigilantes known as Wolves protect their kin and territory at any cost. But after the death of his wife, King Rastoth is plagued by grief, leaving the kingdom of Rilpor vulnerable. Vulnerable to the blood-thirsty greed of the Warrior-King Liris and the Mireces army waiting in the mountains. GODBLIND is an incredible debut from a dazzling new voice of the genre. Published 15th June 2017 by HarperCollins. The map has subsequently been sold to publishers around the world. My map will also be used in the other books in the series by Anna Stephens, including Dark Soul, published in August 2018 and Bloodchild, published in August 2019 by HarperCollins. |
My map will also be used in Anna Stephen's sequel, 'Dark Soul' published August 2018 by HarperCollins.
|
My map will also be used in Anna Stephen's final book in the trilogy, 'Bloodchild', published in August 2019 by HarperCollins.
|
The Court of Broken Knives
Perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence and R Scott Bakker, The Court of Broken Knives, is the explosive debut by one of grimdark fantasy’s most exciting new voices, Anna Smith-Spark. I was thrilled to be asked by author Anna Smith-Spark to create the fantasy map for her amazing new book, and thrilled that her publishers, HarperCollins, love my illustration work! :D The map has subsequently been sold to publishers around the world including Orbit and Random House. This richly dark fantasy novel was published 27th June 2017 by HarperCollins and their imprint HarperVoyager. My map will also be used in the other books in the Empires of Dust trilogy by Anna Smith-Spark, including The Tower Of Living and Dying published in August 2018 and The House of Sacrifice published July 2019 by HarperCollins. |
My map will also feature in Anna Smith-Spark's The Tower of Living and Dying, published August 2018 by HarperCollins.
|
My map will also be used in Anna Smith Spark's final book in her Empires of Dust trilogy, 'The House of Sacrifice' published in July 2019 by HarperCollins.
|
Portraiture - 'Portrait of a Family'
A graphite and blue watercolour pastel portrait for a private commission - 'Portrait of a Family', created December 2016.
A graphite and blue watercolour pastel portrait for a private commission - 'Portrait of a Family', created December 2016.
Family portrait by Sophie E Tallis
Shadows of the Oak
The sequel to the popular, Willow Weep No More, exploring the role of the anti-hero, in a second beautifully illustrated volume of dark and twisted fairytales. I wrote and illustrated a short story, 'The Orphan and the Iron Troll', for this gorgeous anthology as well as another illustration for another author's story, 'The Painted Platform'. Published 13th December 2016 by Tenebris Books - http://www.tenebrisbooks.com/ when it will also be available in a gorgeous hardback version!
Beautiful cover art by fantastically talented, Līga Kļaviņa, and cover design by Ken 'The Awesome' Dawson.
The Orphan and the Iron Troll (with Arthur Rackham inspired border) by Sophie E Tallis.
|
The Orphan and the Iron Troll - (borderless edition) by Sophie E Tallis.
|
The Painted Platform by Sophie E Tallis
Shadow Histories of the River Kingdom
A wonderful collection of stories by master story-teller, Juliet E McKenna (Tales of Einarinn), including a brand new story, all set within her new visionary world, the River Kingdom. Launched at BristolCon on October 29th 2016 and published by Wizard's Tower Press by Hugo Award winner Cheryl Morgan. I was thrilled to do the map for this, my latest commission...and here it is!
Wonderful cover art by Ben Baldwin.
Map of the River Kingdom by Sophie E Tallis
|
Map of the River Kingdom by Sophie E Tallis
|
Portraiture - 'Mother and Child'
A graphite and blue watercolour pastel portrait I did for a private commission - 'Mother & Child', created 2015.
Mother and child by Sophie E Tallis
H is for Hawkesbury
Below is an illustration I've done for the cover of the new Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival anthology, H is for Hawkesbury, founded and organised by fellow author extraordinaire, Debbie Young - http://authordebbieyoung.com/ and http://hulitfest.com/. The anthology features a selection of fiction extracts and poetry from a wide range of authors who all read at the festival, including an excerpt from my novel, White Mountain.
H is for Hawkesbury published late Summer 2015!
The Fox Inn at Hawkesbury Upton by Sophie E Tallis
Songs Of Seraphina
Below is a fantasy map I created for the extraordinary world of uber-talented writer, Jude Houghton, and his stunning debut novel, Songs of Seraphina, published 30th June 2015 by Tenebris Books - http://www.tenebrisbooks.com/.
Cover art by Lorinda Tomko
Songs of Seraphina fantasy world map by Sophie E Tallis
A World Of Their Own
A World Of Their Own, is a wonderful anthology of collected short stories and flash fiction from The Alliance of Worldbuilders (AWB) - a group of uber-talented sci-fi and fantasy writers who met on the HarperCollins writing site, Authonomy and formed an alliance of authors. To be published 4th September 2015.
Along with two other artists, I am currently working on a commission of illustrations for this anthology. ALL proceeds and profits from the book will go to the charity, The World Literacy Foundation, in loving memory of our fallen AWB member, Lindsey J Parsons who suddenly and tragically died 5th Jan 2014.
Check out more about The Alliance of Worldbuilders and its awesome fantasy/sci-fi authors here: http://theallianceofworldbuilders.weebly.com/ and http://authonomy.com/forums/threads/99758/the-alliance-of-worldbuilders-part-iii/ and its Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/TheAllianceOfWorldbuilders/
Snort and Wobbles 2: The Return of the Goblins
Below are 7 illustrations commissioned for the sequel to 'Snort and Wobbles' by writer, Will Macmillan Jones. The book was published 2015.
Cover image produced by Hazel Butler.
White Mountain - Book 1 of The Darkling Chronicles
Below are 9 illustrations I completed for my epic fantasy novel, White Mountain, re-published 1st December 2014 - by Kristell Ink Publishing - http://kristell-ink.com/ and BFS Award winning independent press, Grimbold Books - http://www.grimboldbooks.com/. For more information check out: http://thedarklingchronicles.weebly.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/FantasyEpic.
Cover art by uber-talented, Danil Shunkov (based on an initial sketch by me)
Felinity
Below is an illustration I recently completed, to accompany a short story of mine, which will feature in a new anthology of flash fiction with a feline theme, Felinity, published by Sammy HK Smith and the brilliant publishing house, Kristell Ink - http://kristell-ink.com/ and Grimbold Books - http://www.grimboldbooks.com/ in April 2014.
Talented artist and writer, Hazel Butler - http://aadenianink.com/, created the fabulous artwork for the book cover.
Zombie family by Sophie E Tallis
The book cover art was produced by Hazel Butler.
Snort and Wobbles
Below is a series of 7 illustrations that were commissioned by author, Will Macmillan Jones - for his children's book, Snort and Wobbles - published 2014.
Below is a series of 7 illustrations that were commissioned by author, Will Macmillan Jones - for his children's book, Snort and Wobbles - published 2014.
