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Martin McKenna
Born
Martin McKenna

(1969-02-21)21 February 1969
London, England
DiedSeptember 2020(2020-09-00) (aged 51)
NationalityBritish
Known forFantasy art, illustration

Martin McKenna (21 February 1969 – September 2020) was a British artist and illustrator, known for his work in role-playing games, novels, and comics, mainly of horror and fantasy genres.

He illustrated many Games Workshop products in the 1980s, and his drawings were a key part of the visual identity of the first edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.[1] When Games Workshop started its Warhammer fiction line in 1990, he provided internal art.[1] He contributed to Fighting Fantasy books, Everway, Magic: The Gathering, video games (including Eidos Interactive,[2] and film and television.[1] He has illustrated books for numerous international publishers including Scholastic, Penguin Books, Oxford University Press, HarperCollins, Time-Warner, and Hodder & Stoughton, illustrating popular authors such as Anne McCaffrey, Raymond E. Feist and Harry Turtledove, as well as some classics including Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and The Silver Sword.[3] He also wrote books about digital art, such as Digital Fantasy Painting Workshop and Digital Horror Art, and the children's picture books The Octopuppy and The Crocodolly.[1]

Early life and career

McKenna was born in London and as a child, he was inspired by "the things [he] found most frightening,"[3] including the gothic horror episodes of Doctor Who and Hammer and Universal horror movies. In 1985 at the age of 16, McKenna started submitting illustrations to fantasy & horror fanzines such as the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired Dagon. His first professional commission was for Games Workshop's house magazine Warlock, and this was followed by further work for Games Workshop including Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay publications and the very first Warhammer 40,000 book.[4]

McKenna was entirely self-taught as an artist and for many years he used entirely traditional materials. In 1997, he transitioned mostly to digital work.[3]

Reception

In Issue 93 of White Dwarf, Phil Gallagher called McKenna's artwork in the Games Workshop publication Death on the Reik "nothing short of superb — he deserves a lot of credit for the way he's captured the atmosphere of the Reikland setting, not to mention the personalities of the dozens of non-player characters."[5]

Awards

In 1995 he was awarded the British Fantasy Award for Best Artist.[6]

Personal life

He married and had a son born in 2013. His hobbies included reading, watching films, training his border collie, Nell, for sheepdog trials, hiking Scottish mountains, and flying airplanes.[3] He lived in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom from 2014 to 2020 before relocating to Scotland in July 2020.[7]

Death

McKenna committed suicide in September 2020. He was survived by his son.[8]

Published work

Many of McKenna's works are archived on Flickr.[10]

-
Publication Company Art Type Year
The Croco Dolly Scholastic Cover, author & interior art 2014
El Aullido del Hombre Lobo Mundos Epicos Cover & interior art 2014
Into the Storm - Axel Rudi Pell LPV/Steamhammer Sleeve Art 2014
Beyond the Pit Arion Games Interior art 2014
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Oxford University Press Interior art 2014
The Octopuppy Omnibus Books/Scholastic Author and Artist 2013
The Gift - paperback Omnibus Books/Scholastic Cover & interior art 2013
Fantasy Art Now - paperback Collins Author, editor & artist 2013
Shadows Over Innsmouth Titan Books Interior art 2013
Spectre Telos Cover art 2013
Blacksand Arion Games Cover art 2013
Le Hurlement du Loup-garou Gallimard Jeunesse Cover & interior art 2013
Blood of the Zombies Tin Man Interior art 2012
XB-1 Magazine December issue Konektor Cover art 2012
Chamber of Chills Vol 4 PS Publishing Interior art 2012
Dark Heart Ex Libris Auctor Cover art 2012
La Nuit du Necromancien Gallimard Jeunesse Cover & interior art 2012
The Gift Omnibus Books/Scholastic Cover & interior art 2012
XB-1 Magazine October issue Konnektor Cover art 2012
The Weird and the Wonderful Spectre Press Interior art 2012
The Pirate of the Beyond Gallimard Jeunesse Cover art 2012
Living with Lady Macbeth and the Witches Spearean Cover art 2012
SFX Special Edition 55 Future Interior art 2012
Wolfmen Newton Compton Edition Interior art 2012
Circle of the Oath - Axel Rudi Pell SPV/Steamhammer Sleeve art 2012
Armies of Death (new edition series 2 FF15) Wizard Books Cover art 2011
Grim & Grimmer Bk 4: The Calamitous Queen Omnibus/Scholastic Cover art 2011
The Shadowing Book 2: Skinned Egmont Cover art 2011
Grim & Grimmer Bk3: The Desperate Dwarf Cover art Cover art 2011
The Ballads IV - Axel Rudi Pell SPV/Steamhammer Sleeve art 2011
Curse of the Mummy (new edition series 2 FF14) Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2011
The Shadowing Book 1: Hunted Egmont Cover art 2011
Hour of the Beast Freedoms Hammer Productions Cover art 2011
Forest of Doom (new edition series 2 FF13) Wizard Books Cover art 2011
Fabled Lands Role-Playing Game Greywood Publishing Interior art 2011
A Minotaur at The Savoy Mirus Cover art 2011
Mirabilis comic - issues 1-3 & 6-8 Mirus Cover art 2011
Mirabilis: Winter Vol 1 Mirus Cover art 2011
World of Fantasy Magazine No 4 (80) April issue TechnoMir (Russia) Interior art 2010
Pocket Fantasy Art Ilex Press Author, editor & writer 2010
Trial of Champions (new edition series 2 FF12) Wizard Books Cover art 2010
The Crest - Axel Rudi Pell SPV/Steamhammer Sleeve art 2010
Grim & Grimmer Bk 3: The Grasping Goblin Omnibus/Scholastic Cover art 2010
Howl of the Werewolf (new edition series 2 FF11) Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2010
Night of the Necromancer (series 2 FF8) Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2010
City of Thieves (new edition series 2 FF6) Wizard Books Cover art 2010
Bloodbones (new edition series 2 FF7) Wizard Books Cover art 2010
Midgard Suddeutche Zeitung Cover art 2009
QUERP Core Rule Book 1st edition Greywood Publishing Interior art 2009
The Battle for Rondo Omnibus/Scholastic Cover art 2009
The Wizard of Rondo Omnibus/Scholastic Cover art 2009
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (new edition series 2 FF1) Wizard Books Cover art 2009
The Fantasy Art Bible Quarto/Chartwell Books Inc Interior art 2009
The Monster Book of Zombies Metro Books Interior art 2009
Blackthorn Forest - Dungeon Crawl Expansion Greywood Publishing Cover & interior art 2009
Epic Adventure Dungeon Crawl - Core Boxed Set Greywood Publishing Interior art 2008
Vampiri! Newton Compton Edition Interior art 2008
Il Grande Libro Di Dracula Newton Compton Edition Interior art 2008
Fantasy Art Magazine Top Artist vol 32 China New Media Interior art 2008
Children's Great Explorers Encyclopedia TallTree/Paragon Interior art 2008
Gothic Art Now Ilex Press Interior art 2008
Nowa Fantastyka Magazine, August Issue Proszynski Media Cover art 2008
Faeries Nestiveqnen Editions Interior art 2008
L'univers des Dragons tome 2 Galerie Daniel Maghen Interior art 2008
Fantasy Art Magazine Top Artist vol 27 China New Media Interior art 2008
Misterstourworm and the Kelpies Gift Circular Records Cover & interior art 2008
Fantasy Report magazine Eltra Publishing Cover & interior art 2008
Fantasy Art Now Ilex Press/Collins Author, editor & artist 2007
Nowa Fantastyka Magazine, November issue Proszynski Media Cover 2007
Lesser Shades of Evil Ravencross Publishing / Eos Press Interior art 2007
Howl of the Werewolf Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2007
The Key to Rondo Scholastic Cover art 2007
Spellbreaker Wizard Books Cover art 2007
Fantastyka Magazine, Winter Issue Proszynski Media Cover art 2007
Curse of the Mummy Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2007
Nowa Fantastyka Magazine, Dec issue Proszynski Media Cover art 2006
Bloodbones Wizard Books Cover art 2006
Nowa Fantastyka Magazine, July issue Proszynski Media Cover & interior art 2006
Digital Horror Art Ilex Press/Thomson Author & artist 2006
Drawing and Painting Fantasy Landscapes and Cityscapes Barron's / New Burlington Books Contributor 2006
Nowa Fantastyka Magazine, April issue Proszynski Media Cover art 2006
Talisman of Death Wizard Books Cover art 2006
The Forgotten Spell Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2006
Fantastyka Magazine, Winter Issue Proszynski Media Cover art 2005
Toxic Magazine Egmont Magazines Interior art 2005
Fantastyka Magazine, Summer Issue Hodder & Stoughton Cover art 2005
Worldwar: Homeward Bound Wizard Books Cover art 2005
Valley of Lights Telos Publishing Cover art 2005
Eye of the Dragon Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2005
Anatomy for Fantasy Artists Barron's/D&C Interior art 2005
Dhampir Time Warner/Orbit Cover art 2005
How to Draw & Sell Digital Cartoons Ilex Press/Barron's Interior art 2005
Sorcery! Book 3: The Seven Serpents RPG Myriador Ltd. Cover art 2005
Forest of Doom RPG Myriador Ltd. Interior art 2004
Digital Fantasy Painting Workshop Ilex Press/Collins Author & artist 2004
Settling Accounts Book 1: Return Engagement Hodder & Stoughton Cover art 2004
Legend of Zagor Wizard Books Cover & interior art 2004
Temple of Terror Wizard Books Cover art 2004
Sorcery! Book 2: Khare - Cityport of Traps RPG Myriador Ltd. Interior art 2004
Trial of Champions RPG Myriador Ltd. Cover & interior art 2004
.Net magazine Future Publishing Cover art 2004
Drawing & Painting Fantasy Figures Barron's/D&C Interior art 2003
Dragonlance: Age Of Mortals Sovereign Press Interior art 2003
Sovereign Stone: Marauders of the Wolf Sovereign Press Interior art 2003
Journey Into The Void HarperCollins Cover art 2003
King of Foxes HarperCollins Cover art 2003
The Mammoth Book of Stephen Jones PS Publishing Interior art 2003
Island of the Lizard King Wizard Books Cover art 2003
Return to Firetop Mountain Wizard Books Interior art 2003
Sorcery! Book 1: The Shamutanti Hills RPG Myriador Ltd. Cover design & interior art 2003
Deathtrap Dungeon RPG Myriador Ltd. Cover design & interior art 2003
Armies of Death Wizard Books Cover art 2003
Trial of Champions Wizard Books Cover art 2003
Caverns of the Snow Witch RPG Myriador Ltd. Cover design & interior art 2003
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain RPG Myriador Ltd. Cover & interior art 2003
Forest of Doom Wizard Books Cover art 2003
Thinking Through Religion Oxford University Press Interior art 2003
Hawk Eyes Oxford University Press Cover art 2003
Digital Fantasy Painting Ilex Press/Watson Guptil Interior art 2002
Talon of the Silver Hawk HarperCollins Cover art 2002
City of Thieves Wizard Books Cover art 2002
Doctor Who: Nightdreamers Telos Publishing Frontispiece 2002
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain Wizard Books Cover art 2002
Inferno! issue 30 GW/The Black Library Cover art 2002
Nobilis Hogshead Publishing Interior art 2002
Fire! Fire! Oxford University Press Interior art 2002
Reach for the Stars Oxford University Press Interior art 2002
The Cosmic Clock Oxford University Press Interior art 2002
Guardians of the Lost HarperCollins Cover art 2001
The Dinosaur Planet Omnibus LittleBrown/Orbit Cover art 2001
Oxford Mathswise Posters Oxford University Press Poster art 2001
The Building Site Oxford University Press Interior art 2001
Mummies, Tombs, and the Afterlife Oxford University Press Cover & interior art 2001
The Vikings Oxford University Press Cover & interior art 2001
Arthur Warrior Chief Oxford University Press Cover art 2001
Warhammer Monthly issue 49 GW/The Black Library Cover art 2001
Honour Guard GW/The Black Library Cover art 2001
Pacific Warriors Interactive Vision Cover art 2001
Well of Darkness HarperCollins Cover art 2000
Road Wars Interactive Vision Cover art 2000
Search And Rescue 2 Interactive Vision Cover art 2000
PC Strategy Games magazine issue 3 Crimson Publishing Cover art 2000
The Ultimate Book of Dinosaurs Monkey Puzzle/Parragon Interior art 2000
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Oxford University Press Interior art 1999
Urban Chaos Eidos Interactive Conceptual Art 1999
Deathtrap Dungeon Eidos Interactive Cover & interior art 1998
Games Master magazine issue 61 Future Publishing Interior art 1997
Challenging the Wolf Squane's Pass Cover & interior art 1997
The Mammoth Book of Dracula Robinson Books Interior art 1997
Through the Glass Darkly (Nightbane World Book 3) Palladium Books Interior art 1997
New West (Rifts World Book 14) Palladium Books Interior art 1997
Lone Star (Rifts World Book 13) Palladium Books Interior art 1997
Psyscape (Rifts World Book 12) Palladium Books Interior art 1997
Magic: the Gathering (Mirage) Wizards of the Coast Card art 1996
Coalition War Campaign (Rifts World Book 11) Palladium Books Interior art 1996
Nightlands (Nightbane World Book 2) Palladium Books Interior art 1996
Between the Shadows (Nightbane World Book 1) Palladium Books Cover art 1996
Adventure on the High Seas (Palladium RPG Bk 3) Palladium Books Cover & interior art 1996
Old Ones (Palladium Fantasy RPG Book II) Palladium Books Cover & interior art 1996
Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game Palladium Books Cover & interior art 1996
The Giant Book of Fantasy & The Supernatural Magpie Books Interior art 1996
Silver Rhapsody BFS Interior art 1996
Kimota magazine issue 4 PSFG Interior art 1996
Chills magazine issues 9 & 10 BFS Interior art 1996
Deathrealm magazine issue 30 Malicious Press Interior art 1996
The Scream Factory magazine issue 61 Deadline Press Cover art 1996
The Night of the Green Dragon Oxford University Press Cover & interior art 1996
The Giant Book of Frankenstein Magpie/The Book Company Interior art 1995
The Giant Book of Werewolves Magpie/Parragon Interior art 1995
The Giant Book of Zombies Magpie/Parragon Interior art 1995
Everway Wizards of the Coast Card art 1995
Curse of the Mummy (Fighting Fantasy 59) Puffin Books Cover & interior art 1995
Revenge of the Vampire (Fighting Fantasy 58) Puffin Books Interior art 1995
Out There In The Darkness Subterranean Press Cover art 1995
Mystique magazine issue 6 BFS Interior art 1995
Kimota magazine issue 3 PSFG Interior art 1995
Kimota magazine issue 2 PSFG Cover art 1995
Beyond magazine issue 2 Parallel Universe Interior art 1995
Beyond magazine issue 1 Parallel Universe Cover & interior art 1995
The Silver Sword Oxford University Press Cover & interior art 1995
Catalogue Fedogan & Bremer Cover art 1995
Catalogue Cold Tonnage Books Cover art 1995
Catalogue Cold Tonnage Books Cover art 1994
Fantasycon XIX programme BFS Interior art 1994
Fantasycon XIX BFS Logo art 1994
Catalogue DreamHaven Books Cover art 1994
The Giant Book of Vampires Magpie Books Interior art 1994
Interzone magazine issue 81 Interzone Cover art 1994
Northern Chills Kimota Publishing Cover & interior art 1994
Shadows Over Innsmouth Fedogan & Bremer Cover & interior art 1994
The Anthology of Fantasy & The Supernatural Tiger Books Interior art 1994
The Mammoth Book of Frankenstein Robinson Books Interior art 1994
The Mammoth Book of Werewolves Robinson Books Interior art 1994
Look & Find Fantasy game Hasbro UK Cover & interior art 1994
Steve Jackson's Battlecards Merlin Trading Cards Packaging & card art 1994
Legend of Zagor (Fighting Fantasy 54) Puffin Books Cover & interior art 1994
The Legend of Zagor Fighting Fantasy boardgame Hasbro UK Interior art 1993
Mystique magazine issue 5 BFS Interior art 1993
Chills magazine issue 7 BFS Cover art 1993
The Mammoth Book of Zombies Robinson Books Interior art 1993
The Mammoth Book of Vampires Robinson Books Interior art 1993
Interzone magazine issue 59, 62, 65 Interzone Interior art 1993
Interzone magazine issue 55 Interzone Cover & interior art 1992
Far Point magazine issue 3 Victoria Publications Interior art 1992
Kimota magazine issue 1 PSFG Cover & interior art 1992
Mystique magazine issue 4 BFS Interior art 1992
Chills magazine issue 6 BFS Interior art 1992
The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook Puffin Books Interior art 1992
Return to Firetop Mountain (Fighting Fantasy 50) Puffin Books Interior art 1992
Moonrunner (Fighting Fantasy 48) Puffin Books Interior art 1992
Castle Drachenfels (WFRP) Games Workshop Interior art 1992
Fantasycon XVI programme BFS Interior art 1991
Fantasycon XVI BFS Logo art 1991
Interzone magazine issues 43, 46, 48, 52 Interzone Interior art 1991
Legend of the Shadow Warriors (FF 44) Puffin Books Interior art 1991
White Dwarf magazine 133, 137, 138, 140, 142 Games Workshop Interior art 1991
Storm Warriors GW Books Interior art 1991
Fantasy Tales vol.10 nos. 6 & 7 Robinson Books Interior art 1991
Fantasy Tales vol.10 nos. 4 & 5 Robinson Books Interior art 1990
Winter Chills magazine issue 4 BFS Cover & interior art 1990
Krokodil Tears GW Books Interior art 1990
Demon Download GW Books Interior art 1990
Warhammer Companion (WFRP) Games Workshop Interior art 1990
Waaargh the Orks! (Warhammer 40k) Games Workshop Interior art 1990
White Dwarf magazine 121, 124, 125, 126, 130 Games Workshop Interior art 1990
Red Thirst GW Books Interior art 1990
Fantasycon XIV programme BFS Cover art 1989
Skeleton Crew magazine issue 5 Grim Reaper Design Cover art 1989
Wolf Riders GW Books Interior art 1989
Ignorant Armies GW Books Interior art 1989
Zaragoz GW Books Interior art 1989
Drachenfels GW Books Interior art 1989
Warhammer 40,000 Compendium Games Workshop Interior art 1989
Space Marine 3D Roleplay game Games Workshop Interior art 1989
The Restless Dead (WFRP) Games Workshop Interior art 1989
Steve Jackson's F.I.S.T Computerdial Ltd Advertising art 1989
Dead of Night (Fighting Fantasy 40) Puffin Books Interior art 1989
Vault of the Vampire (Fighting Fantasy 38) Puffin Books Interior art 1989
White Dwarf magazine 112, 114, 117, 118, 119, 120 Games Workshop Interior art 1989
Dagon magazine issue 26 Dagon Press Back cover art 1989
Mystique magazine issue 2 BFS Interior art 1989
Winter Chills magazine issue 3 BFS Interior art 1989
Fantasy Tales vol.10 nos. 2 & 3 Robinson Books Interior art 1989
Fantasy Tales vol.10 no.1 Robinson Books Interior art 1988
World Fantasy Convention art show programme British Fantasy Society Cover art 1988
Skeleton Crew magazine double issue 3/4 Grim Reaper Design Interior art 1988
Daggers of Darkness (Fighting Fantasy 35) Puffin Books Interior art 1988
White Line Fever (Dark Future) Games Workshop Interior art 1988
Something Rotten in Kislev (WFRP) Games Workshop Interior art 1988
Warhammer Campaign (WFRP) Games Workshop Interior art 1988
Power Behind the Throne (WFRP) Games Workshop Interior art 1988
Realm of Chaos Games Workshop Interior art 1988
White Dwarf magazine 97, 98, 104 Games Workshop Interior art 1988
Die Rubezahl magazine issue 5 Pob Publishing Cover & interior art 1988
Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader Games Workshop Interior art 1987
The Fury of Dracula boardgame Games Workshop Interior art 1987
Advanced RuneQuest Third Edition Games Workshop Interior art 1987
Warhammer City (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) Games Workshop Interior art 1987
Death on the Reik (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) Games Workshop Interior art 1987
Green and Pleasant Land (Call of Cthulhu) Games Workshop Interior art 1987
White Dwarf magazine 85, 86, 88, 93, 94 Games Workshop Interior art 1987
Adventurer magazine issues 6, 7, 8 Mersey Leisure Publishing Interior art 1987
Dagon magazine issue 20 Dagon Press Back cover 1987
Dagon magazine double issue 18/19 Dagon Press Interior art 1987
Dagon magazine issue 17 Dagon Press Back cover 1987
Dagon magazine issue 16 Dagon Press Cover art 1987
Winter Chills magazine issue 2 BFS Interior art 1987
Fantasy Tales vol.9 no.17 Fantasy Tales Interior art 1987
Die Rubezahl issue 4 Dagon Press Interior art 1987
White Dwarf magazine issue 84 Games Workshop Interior art 1986
The Enemy Within (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) Games Workshop Interior art 1986
Warlock magazine issue 12 and issue 13 Games Workshop Interior art 1986
Adventurer magazine issue 3 Mersey Leisure Publishing Interior art 1986
Dagon magazine issue 15 Dagon Press Cover & interior art 1986
Dagon magazine issue 14 Dagon Press Back cover 1986
Die Rubezahl magazine issues 1, 2, 3 Pob Publishing Covers & interior art 1986
Monstrous Perversion no.2 Pob Publishing Covers & interior art 1985

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gideon (2 November 2020). "In Memoriam: Martin McKenna". Awesome Lies.
  2. ^ "Martin McKenna | Mirabilis Year of Wonders".
  3. ^ a b c d Trotman, Wayne Gerard (11 November 2011). "Red Moon Chronicle: Interview with Martin McKenna". Archived from the original on 12 February 2021.
  4. ^ McKenna, Martin. "About". martinmckenna.net. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. ^ Gallagher, Phil (September 1987). "Open Box". White Dwarf. No. 93. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Winners | The British Fantasy Society". www.britishfantasysociety.org.
  7. ^ "Martin McKenna memorial". martinmckennamemorial.co.uk.
  8. ^ Eggleston, Simon. "Help raise £2500 to we are currently raising funds in our endeavours to help disadvantaged children in our area to access the arts". JustGiving. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Martin McKenna | Bibliography". www.martinmckenna.net.
  10. ^ "Martin McKenna's albums". Flickr.
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