1. The Brief
Every cover starts with the story.
We talk through:
Sometimes, the direction is still taking shape. Other times, the author arrives with a clear visual in mind.
For example, this was the brief from Steve McHugh for Orbital Drop:
“Basically my idea is a woman in a kind of high orbit armour stood at the end of a platform looking over a planet below. There’s a bit more to it than that, but that’s the essential thing. It’s called Orbital Drop.”
From there, the role is to take that core idea and develop it into a composition that feels cinematic, readable at thumbnail size, and true to the genre.
Every cover starts with the story.
We talk through:
- Your book’s tone, themes, and world
- Your characters and setting
- The fantasy or sci-fi sub-genre you’re writing for
- Comparable titles and visual references
Sometimes, the direction is still taking shape. Other times, the author arrives with a clear visual in mind.
For example, this was the brief from Steve McHugh for Orbital Drop:
“Basically my idea is a woman in a kind of high orbit armour stood at the end of a platform looking over a planet below. There’s a bit more to it than that, but that’s the essential thing. It’s called Orbital Drop.”
From there, the role is to take that core idea and develop it into a composition that feels cinematic, readable at thumbnail size, and true to the genre.
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2. The Concept
Before colour or detail, we lock the idea. I create one or more hand-drawn black-and-white concept sketches that define:
I’ll often include reference material or visual inspiration to help convey tone, lighting, and overall feel. With Steve’s brief for Orbital Drop, I immediately thought of the HALO jump sequence in Mission: Impossible – Fallout — a moment with real scale, tension, and visual impact. It felt like a strong starting point for capturing both altitude and danger. From there, I explored additional references around skydiving, orbital descent, and perspective — looking for the most cinematic and readable way to bring the idea to life. (Concept sketches can be commissioned on their own.) |
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3. The Illustration (first draft - final iamge)
With the concept approved, the world comes to life. The final cover artwork is created as a bespoke digital illustration, developed with:
Every decision serves the story — and the reader browsing past it. I build each illustration using a combination of 3D models and reference photography to establish structure, scale, and realism — then develop the final image by hand. No AI. Ever. Throughout the process, I’ll share early drafts to make sure we’re aligned on tone, character, and world. With Orbital Drop, I sent Steve an initial pass to confirm direction and refine key details. The goal is always the same: to create something that feels like a still from the film version of the book — where every element has weight and purpose. That led to focused questions around the character and setting:
“That looks awesome… I think the image is pretty close to the one I had in my head.” Those details might seem small, but they’re what make the final image feel believable, grounded, and true to the story. |
First draft
Final image
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4. Final Delivery
The finished artwork is delivered ready for use — exactly as it needs to be.
You’ll receive:
By this stage, the direction is already locked — so what you get is a cover that feels considered, cohesive, and ready to stand alongside the books readers already love.
The finished artwork is delivered ready for use — exactly as it needs to be.
You’ll receive:
- Final cover artwork formatted for ebook and print
- High-resolution files, clean and ready for your designer or printer
- A small number of agreed revisions to ensure everything feels right
By this stage, the direction is already locked — so what you get is a cover that feels considered, cohesive, and ready to stand alongside the books readers already love.
Final cover
