Book Illustration — Frankenstein

booksIllustration

16 Dec

Written By Matthew Broughton

Project Scope & Deliverables

Client: Hipkiss Publishing
Project Scope: Limited Edition Book Design, Cover Artwork & Complete Editorial Illustration Suite
Medium & Style: Pencil, Pen & Ink Hand-Drawn Roughs, Digital Illustration Finish (Adobe Photoshop)
Client Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Studio Base: Melbourne, Victoria

The Challenge: Reclaiming the Gothic Narrative

This project actually started as a personal ambition of mine. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a masterpiece, but it has been overshadowed by decades of Hollywood pop culture tropes. I wanted to see a version that stripped all that away and stayed completely true to the original text and the era in which it was written. I pitched the concept to Stephen Hipkiss at Hipkiss Publishing, and he commissioned me to bring this new edition to life.

The main creative challenge was capturing the novel’s intense, original Gothic atmosphere. As one of the most experienced illustrators in Melbourne, I knew we had to move past the green-skinned clichés and build a visual world that felt genuinely dramatic, historically grounded, and focused on the raw emotional weight of the story.

The Solution: A Master-Inspired Visual Language & Complete Book Layout

Drawing inspiration from the dramatic and expressive linework of classic masters like Goya and Rembrandt, I developed a comprehensive series of custom illustrations that highlight the human emotions of the text.

My process always starts off-screen. I drew traditional paper roughs using pencil, pen, and ink to lock in the tactile, atmospheric feel before moving into Photoshop for the final digital rendering and precision layout work.

Because I look at book projects through the dual lens of graphic designers and illustrators, my role extended well beyond the internal artwork. I took complete creative control over the visual architecture of the entire edition, managing the graphic design of the cover and custom logo, alongside crafting all the illustrations inside the book.

I handled the structural product design for the entire physical asset, specifying the high-end production details to make it a true collector’s piece. This included a hardbound cloth finish, custom Pantone yellow accents, and precise Spot UV placement for the cover layout. By managing both the artisan artwork and the technical print specifications, I was able to help Hipkiss Publishing deliver a genuinely bespoke, collector-grade edition.