Christopher Gibbs

Chris is an award winning Illustrator, his work has adorned contemporary adult and young fiction covers all over the world, alongside editorial and advertising commissions. 

He attended the Norwich School of Art from 1993-1996, and completed his Masters in Sequential Design/Illustration in 1998 at the University of Brighton.

Chris has also worked at the University of Huddersfield, University of Portsmouth and the University of Northampton on undergraduate illustration courses as well as lecturing online and teaching on a pre-masters international program.

Practice

My external commercial practice began as an Office Manager for a leading, international illustration agency. During this time, I had the fortune to experience the inner workings of the Industry – editing and delivering portfolios, liaising with some of the world’s leading illustrators/clients, chasing accounts, artwork repro all of which eventually lead to my own first illustration commissions.

I have enjoyed working with a variety of book publishing clients including Hachette, Orion, Random House, Scholastic, Bantam, Simon & Schuster (producing imagery for the Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes and the How to Train Your Dragon franchises).

I have illustrated hundreds of book covers, including 22 for the Gollancz SF Masterworks series, as well as editorial work for the Radio Times, Economist, Sunday Times among many other specialist magazines. I also illustrated the Royal Mail packaging for Harry Potter Stamps.

I continue to strive to expand my knowledge of new and emerging digital process, education theories and fostering collaborative relationships with designers, publishers and practitioners, seeking to bring these to the illustration course here at NUA.

Wagner’s ‘Der Ring’  – EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION – BBC Radio Times, Christmas edition 2018

Marked – BOOK COVER ILLUSTRATION – Daw Books, New York 2018

Bright Burns the Night – BOOK COVER ILLUSTRATION – Bantam Books, New York 2017

How to Train Your Dragon – BOOK COVER ILLUSTRATIONS x 12 – Hachette Children’s Books 2017

Pacifica – BOOK COVER ILLUSTRATION – Tor Books NYC 2017

The incredible Cabinet of Wonders – CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD ‘ TOY MAKERS CABINET’ – Lonely Planet Publishing 2017

Viking DNA – EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION – BBC Radio Times, Christmas edition 2017

2014 World Science-Fiction Convention- Excel, Exhibitor/Panelist

2011 A.O.I. Images 35: Illustration Annual

2011 A.O.I. Images 35 Exhibition: The Bankside Gallery

2010 A.O.I. Images 34: Illustration Annual

2010 A.O.I. Images 34 Exhibition: The Best in British Illustration – LCC

2010 The Art Book: Illustration Annual

2009 The Art Book: Illustration Annual

2008 A.O.I. Images 32: Illustration Annual

2008 A.O.I. Images 32 Exhibition: The Best in British Illustration – LCC

2008 Spectrum 15 Illustration Annual (USA)

2008 Mac User Magazine/January – Feature and Interview

2008 The Art Book:  Illustration Annual

2007 Spectrum 14:  Illustration Annual (USA)

2007 Illustration Award A.O.I. Gold Award for book covers – Bantam Books NYC

2007 A.O.I. Images 31 Exhibition: The Best in British Illustration – LCC

2007 A.O.I. Images 31: Illustration Annual

2007 The Art Book: Illustration Annual

2006 The Art Book: Illustration Annual

2005 ING Bank Art Project: Drawing the City – Tutor and Exhibitor

2005 Mere Illustration Exhibition – University of Lincoln

2005 Mere Illustration Exhibition – Eich Gallery Hull

2004 Contact 20:  Illustration Annual

2003 A.O.I Images 27: Exhibition – Mall Galleries

2003 A.O.I Images 27: Illustration Annual

2001 Contact 17: Illustration Annual

2001 Originals Annual: The Directory of Illustration

2000 A Digital Dolly? by Robert Mason – publication feature

2000 A.O.I. Images 24 Exhibition – The Royal College of Art

2000 A.O.I. Images 24: Illustration Annual

2000 – present 11 Book Covers held at The Merril Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art, Toronto Public library, Ontario, Canada

Other activities

• PG Cert in Andragogy – Teaching and learning
• HEA Fellow