5) You are well known for you illustrations in Caverns of the Snow Witch, which has an almost wood block print look. What made you adopt that style?

The illustration work Gary and i did for White Dwarf, had a very bold black line style. When we worked on Caverns we just continued and developed that, sometimes making it even more stylised and graphic. we weren’t really conscious of making it look like a wood block print. it just turned out that way.

one of the reasons why we went for that style was it had a very different look from the previous books. I think they really stood out.

6) Who are your main influences artistically and why?

There are so many things i am influenced by its hard to know where to begin.

I love surrealism, UPA animation art, British film posters, 1970’s TV shows, vintage picture books and toys, packaging, fashion, airfix illustration, the list goes on and on. As for artists here are some that have always inspired me - Salvador Dali, Syd Mead, Johannes Vermeer, Alma Tadama, Rene Magritte, Ralph Goings, Frank Frazetta and Jean Girard Moebius.

I began studying art and design a few years before computers became ubiquitous. At that time it was all about getting your hands dirty with real materials. From oil paints and x-acto knives to air brushes and ear shattering compressors.

It’s no surprise its these pre-digital artists who have always appealed to me. Its not only that they are great draftmens and make art that looks effortless. There is something about a brushstroke by Frazetta or inked line by Moebius which doesn’t not have the same resonance digitally.

I also love fantasy and trash cinema. Films like Alien, Jason and the Argonauts, Nosferatu, Danger Diabolik, Q The winged serpent and many more. More recently I have been getting into spy films of the 1960’s particular trashy James Bond spoofs such as Deadlier than the male, the Matt helm films, In like Flint and a wonderful Hong Kong movie called “Temptress with a thousand faces”.

7) What books have you contributed to recently?

most of my recent work has come from business and educational magazines. My style tends to be quite varied so adapt my skills to the job at hand. I would definitely love to do more fantasy work.

5) What paper, material did you use to create your distinct illustrations in Caverns of the Snow Witch?

The original illustrations were all completed in A3 size and drawn with pencil and black felt tip pens on cartridge paper. I would often do my roughs much larger. I remember drawing the centaurs at almost A2 size and reducing it with a grant enlarger we had at college. The felt tips we used were very ordinary and I suspect the ink would have faded by now. If I was doing the illustrations today I would definitely work with archival inks and and acid free paper.

Thanks Edward