Skye Galloway
ILLUSTRATOR & Designer
A LITTLE story about book covers
Every cover tells a story. As an author, you want the audience to feel enthralled immediately.
Designing Book Covers is about ensuring the audience knows what is in store for the book's most important elements and weaving them into the cover.
That is the job of the designer.
From brainstorming to bookshelves.
As Lead Designer at Ringwood Publishing, I have created book covers in multiple genres.
Song of the Stag
Client Ringwood Publishing
Song of the Stag is a project I am working on with
Ringwood Publishing.
It follows a tale of sapphic love and
rebellion in a fantasy country based on Scotland.
Song of the Stag
In my research, I focused on elements present in
folklore, looking into Scottish flowers and foliage.
The Carnelian Tree by Anne Pettigrew is a cosy crime set in the University of Oxford.
The final design was chosen because of its focus on the Oxford skyline, a key marketing selling point.
Astrology, science, feeling lost and trying to reconnect with family adrift.
These were the themes that were explored in this cover design.
I always start with a central image that brings together the central themes.
From here, another central aspect is choosing a colour scheme and font to
compliment the atmosphere of the book and its genre.
The Time Between Space
The Hotel Hokusai
This was an inspiring design brief centred around a book set in historical Japan. Notably, the narrative showcased prominent Scottish artists as characters, all while delving into the intricacies of a murder mystery and the challenges faced by a young immigrant adjusting to a new life. Balancing these diverse elements posed a rewarding challenge.
In addressing this multifaceted narrative, I sought to employ a creative approach. Inspired by Japanese inks, I incorporated colours and textures that resonated with the cultural backdrop. Furthermore, I introduced a playful yet mysterious sketch of an eel as a central element, aiming to evoke an ominous yet playful ambience suitable for a ‘cosy’ crime-focused storyline.
