Andrew Ashton
Encyclopedia
Andrew Ashton is a book designer and illustrator. He is a Philosophy graduate (University of London) and joined Mensa International
in 1992. He began his career in publishing at Kogan Page, the leading UK independent business publisher, in the early nineties. At the turn of the 21st century he moved to HarperCollins publishers where he still works. He has designed and illustrated books for many different lists and in many different styles from literary flamingo titles to non-fiction bestsellers such as Fighter Boys by Patrick Bishop.
Although his book designs are rarely acknowledged (common UK practice) significant works for endpapers, title pages or page illustrations may be credited on the imprint page, or in the acknowledgements by the author, and such entries can be found in books by authors such as Paullina Simons
, Janny Wurts
, James Twining
, Tracy Chevalier
, Barbara Erskine
and Robin Hobb (Megan Lindholm). His illustrations are also in books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
, Philippa Gregory
, and Conn Iggulden
among many others.
His most famous design is for The Dangerous Book for Boys
, for which he co-won the 2007 Stora Enso Design and Production award with Nicole Abel (Production) at the British Book Industry Awards. As well as designing the book, he also helped set it with Linde Hardaker and was the colourist for the pictures as well as supplying a couple of pictures including the title motif used on every page. He has contributed to all the UK Dangerous Books for Boys so far and was the joint illustrator with Joy Gosney of the Pocket Book.
Recent projects have included a map for the new book Hunters Run by George RR Martin, which uses a font created and owned by the designer based on the letterplate writings of William Blake
. The font has subsequently been used in a prequel to Treasure Island but is not available to the public yet. A second derivative font, a modern script, is being tested with the assistance of HarperCollins. His third font, based on the writing of the cartographer Emanuel Bowen
, was first used in the second Dangerous Pocket Book, Things to Know and subsequently in his original map for The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett. This font, Bowen Script, is now available to buy from MyFonts.com. FontLab
, the leading developer and manufacturer of software for creating digital typefaces, from entry level to professional, have been sufficiently interested in his work to offer him sponsorship through the offices of the President, Ted Harrison.
So far all his illustrations have been connected to books in one way or another. They range from little text break devices to double page spread maps. They can be hand drawn, integrated or modern fully computer generated vector images both in black and white and colour. His poker card illustrations for the Pocket Dangerous Book for Boys were also used on promotional postcards. His maps tend to be individually unique in that they rarely share the same font, outline style, decoration or border. Recent maps have included a modern vector map with illustrations for Road to Paradise by Paullina Simons
, an integrated map which combines drawing and modern vector image manipulation for the UK publication of Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
, and hand-drawn ones for Robin Hobb and George RR Martin. What was originally intended to be a map for the Louvre for The Gilded Seal by James Twining
turned into an elevated view with features that borrowed from much older styles of maps but still conveyed a modern French feel. His maps and artwork are never signed.
Mensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
in 1992. He began his career in publishing at Kogan Page, the leading UK independent business publisher, in the early nineties. At the turn of the 21st century he moved to HarperCollins publishers where he still works. He has designed and illustrated books for many different lists and in many different styles from literary flamingo titles to non-fiction bestsellers such as Fighter Boys by Patrick Bishop.
Although his book designs are rarely acknowledged (common UK practice) significant works for endpapers, title pages or page illustrations may be credited on the imprint page, or in the acknowledgements by the author, and such entries can be found in books by authors such as Paullina Simons
Paullina Simons
Paullina Simons is the international best-selling author of the novels Tully, Red Leaves, Eleven Hours, The Bronze Horseman, Tatiana and Alexander, Lily and The Summer Garden.-Background:...
, Janny Wurts
Janny Wurts
Janny Wurts is an American fantasy novelist and illustrator. She has written several series, including the Wars of Light and Shadow, The Cycle of Fire trilogy, several stand-alone novels, a short story collection and the internationally best selling Empire Trilogy that she co-authored with Raymond...
, James Twining
James Twining
James Twining is a British thriller writer.- Life :Although born in London, Twining spent most of his childhood in France after his family moved to Paris when he was four...
, Tracy Chevalier
Tracy Chevalier
Tracy Chevalier is a bestselling historical novelist. She lives in London with her husband and son.Chevalier was raised in Washington, D.C and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland. After receiving her B.A...
, Barbara Erskine
Barbara Erskine
Barbara Erskine is an English novelist.-Biography:Erskine owns homes in Hereford and Colchester, England. Erskine's first novel was published in 1986...
and Robin Hobb (Megan Lindholm). His illustrations are also in books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE is an English novelist, and one of the world's most beloved storytellers. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and has sold over 32 million copies worldwide. To date, she has written 27 novels -- all bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic...
, Philippa Gregory
Philippa Gregory
Philippa Gregory is an English novelist.-Early life and academic career:Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. When she was two years old, her family moved to England. She was a "rebel" at school, but managed to attend the University of Sussex...
, and Conn Iggulden
Conn Iggulden
Conn Iggulden is a British author who mainly writes historical fiction. He also co-authored The Dangerous Book for Boys.-Background:...
among many others.
His most famous design is for The Dangerous Book for Boys
The Dangerous Book for Boys
The Dangerous Book for Boys, by Conn and Hal Iggulden, is a guidebook published by HarperCollins, aimed at boys "from eight to eighty." It covers around eighty topics, including how to build a treehouse, grow a crystal, or tell direction with a watch...
, for which he co-won the 2007 Stora Enso Design and Production award with Nicole Abel (Production) at the British Book Industry Awards. As well as designing the book, he also helped set it with Linde Hardaker and was the colourist for the pictures as well as supplying a couple of pictures including the title motif used on every page. He has contributed to all the UK Dangerous Books for Boys so far and was the joint illustrator with Joy Gosney of the Pocket Book.
Recent projects have included a map for the new book Hunters Run by George RR Martin, which uses a font created and owned by the designer based on the letterplate writings of William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
. The font has subsequently been used in a prequel to Treasure Island but is not available to the public yet. A second derivative font, a modern script, is being tested with the assistance of HarperCollins. His third font, based on the writing of the cartographer Emanuel Bowen
Emanuel Bowen
Emanuel Bowen was an English map engraver, who worked for George II of England and Louis XV of France as a geographerHe published a 'Complete Atlas of Geography,' 1744-7; an 'English Atlas, with a new set of maps,' 1745; a 'Complete Atlas .....
, was first used in the second Dangerous Pocket Book, Things to Know and subsequently in his original map for The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett. This font, Bowen Script, is now available to buy from MyFonts.com. FontLab
FontLab
FontLab is both the name of a company, FontLab Ltd, and the former name of their flagship font editor product, now called FontLab Studio. Since the early 2000s, FontLab Studio has been the dominant software tool for commercial/retail digital font development. This is partly because the...
, the leading developer and manufacturer of software for creating digital typefaces, from entry level to professional, have been sufficiently interested in his work to offer him sponsorship through the offices of the President, Ted Harrison.
So far all his illustrations have been connected to books in one way or another. They range from little text break devices to double page spread maps. They can be hand drawn, integrated or modern fully computer generated vector images both in black and white and colour. His poker card illustrations for the Pocket Dangerous Book for Boys were also used on promotional postcards. His maps tend to be individually unique in that they rarely share the same font, outline style, decoration or border. Recent maps have included a modern vector map with illustrations for Road to Paradise by Paullina Simons
Paullina Simons
Paullina Simons is the international best-selling author of the novels Tully, Red Leaves, Eleven Hours, The Bronze Horseman, Tatiana and Alexander, Lily and The Summer Garden.-Background:...
, an integrated map which combines drawing and modern vector image manipulation for the UK publication of Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
Camilla Läckberg
Jean Edith Camilla Läckberg Eriksson is a Swedish crime writer.A common theme in Läckberg's books is that all are traditionally set in or around her birthplace, the small Swedish west coast town of Fjällbacka...
, and hand-drawn ones for Robin Hobb and George RR Martin. What was originally intended to be a map for the Louvre for The Gilded Seal by James Twining
James Twining
James Twining is a British thriller writer.- Life :Although born in London, Twining spent most of his childhood in France after his family moved to Paris when he was four...
turned into an elevated view with features that borrowed from much older styles of maps but still conveyed a modern French feel. His maps and artwork are never signed.