Artistic Cartography - Fantasy Map Maker
I have been a professional fantasy map maker for the last 6 years+ but I have been a cartography, geography and geology nut since I was a child. One of my favourite pastimes as a kid was looking at old globes, atlases and maps and poring over the intricate fictional maps of my favourite books like JRR Tolkien's Middle-Earth, CS Lewis's Narnia, AA Milne and EH Shepherd's Hundred Acre Wood map for the Winnie The Pooh books even the maps of Moomin Valley and The Wind In The Willows all held a fascination for me. Having gone on to study geography and geology at school and after, I have used my knowledge of topographical features, cartography and the geology of how landscapes are formed and shaped by nature, to influence my map making in creating worlds which are both fantastical and realistic and bringing an author's vivid imagination into visual life!
All my maps are hand drawn, using graphite, pen & ink and watercolour, coloured inks or acrylic paints where colour is required, with either hand written or computer added labels (as per client's preference). All my maps are also created to each individual client's unique & specific requirements and preferred style, as I am able to replicate any visual style wanted.
I have been a professional fantasy map maker for the last 6 years+ but I have been a cartography, geography and geology nut since I was a child. One of my favourite pastimes as a kid was looking at old globes, atlases and maps and poring over the intricate fictional maps of my favourite books like JRR Tolkien's Middle-Earth, CS Lewis's Narnia, AA Milne and EH Shepherd's Hundred Acre Wood map for the Winnie The Pooh books even the maps of Moomin Valley and The Wind In The Willows all held a fascination for me. Having gone on to study geography and geology at school and after, I have used my knowledge of topographical features, cartography and the geology of how landscapes are formed and shaped by nature, to influence my map making in creating worlds which are both fantastical and realistic and bringing an author's vivid imagination into visual life!
All my maps are hand drawn, using graphite, pen & ink and watercolour, coloured inks or acrylic paints where colour is required, with either hand written or computer added labels (as per client's preference). All my maps are also created to each individual client's unique & specific requirements and preferred style, as I am able to replicate any visual style wanted.
Orchard: A Year in England's Eden
One of my first non-fiction map commissions. 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
One of my first non-fiction map commissions. 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
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Green Sky and Sparks Series
Commissioned steampunk fantasy world map for the Green Sky and Sparks by acclaimed steampunk author, Kate Coe, published by BFS Award winning independent press, Grimbold Books and their imprint Kristell Ink Publishing.
The map artwork will be available to view once published.
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.
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.
Pyrography on Wood
A pyrography map I created on wood for friends, of the swathe of farmland they have bought, using a range of sources including satellite images to accurately recreate a bird's eye view of the landscape with a few creative flourishes. Created March/April 2018.
A pyrography map I created on wood for friends, of the swathe of farmland they have bought, using a range of sources including satellite images to accurately recreate a bird's eye view of the landscape with a few creative flourishes. Created March/April 2018.
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.
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.
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. My map will also be used in the other books in the series by Anna Stephens, including Dark Soul published August 2018 and Bloodchild published August 2019 by HarperCollins. |
My map will also be used in Anna Stephen's sequel, 'Dark Soul' published August 2018 by HarperCollins.
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My map will also be used in Anna Stephen's 'Bloodchild' published August 2019 by HarperCollins
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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. This richly dark fantasy was published in 27th June 2017 by HarperCollins and their imprint Harper Voyager. 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 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 in July 2019 by HarperCollins. |
My map will also be used in 'The Tower Of Living and Dying' by Anna Smith-Spark published in August 2018 by HarperCollins.
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My map will also be used in 'The House of Sacrifice' by Anna Smith-Spark published July 2019 by HarperCollins.
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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.
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.
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
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
White Mountain - Book 1 of The Darkling Chronicles
Below is one of the nine 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)
Below is one of the nine 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)
