Book Illustration — Sherlock Holmes
A Study in Scarlet book cover illusutration and inside page
Project Scope & Deliverables
Client: Hipkiss Publishing
Project Scope: Book Design, Dust Jacket Artwork & Complete Editorial Illustration Suite
Medium & Style: Traditional Pencil, Pen & Ink Hand-Drawn and Digital Illustration Style, Two-Colour Cover Layout (Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop)
Client Location: Gold Coast & Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Studio Base: Melbourne, Victoria
The Challenge: Reimagining a Classic for the Modern Collector
Commissioned by Hipkiss Publishing, the objective for this project was to illustrate a premium reprint of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic, A Study in Scarlet. The real challenge lay in breathing fresh life into one of literature's most frequently adapted characters, while remaining fiercely loyal to the original 1880s Victorian context.
To find the authentic, analogue soul of the original Holmes and Watson, I had to move completely away from modern pop-culture caricatures. This required diving into deep historical research, studying everything from genuine Victorian fashion and tailoring to the specific, gritty atmospherics of gaslit London.
The Solution: An Award-Shortlisted, Two-Colour Narrative System
I developed a striking visual identity for this edition by stripping the palette back to a limited, high-impact combination of black and scarlet red. Using traditional pencil, pen, and ink techniques, I created the complete artwork package—including the full-wrap dust jacket, internal page illustrations, and a narrative back-cover piece.
Operating as an off-site art department, my role covered the entire creative lifecycle, from initial historical character concepts right through to the final technical layout. Taking this holistic approach ensured a boutique, high-end aesthetic that perfectly honoured the premium print and paper quality of the physical book. The project was widely recognised for its balance of historical research and bold graphic design, ultimately being shortlisted for the international Creativepool Annual 2024 award.
Published by: Hipkiss Publishing House
Printed in Australia by: Ligare Book Printers
Cover and text illustrations for A Study in Scarlet
Back cover illustration
Illustration and design of the dustjacket
A study in Scarlet is available to order at Hipkiss Publishing
The book's artwork and layout made the shortlist for the Creative Pool Annual 2024 award.
