Born in 1972, spending
former years in Englands Westcountry (specifically North Dorset,)
I was drawing and painting from an early age. After attending a visual
media course in Bournemouth (and having met some of the finest people
who continue to keep me honest to this day) I considered myself adept
enough with storyboarding to get a job illustrating for the 'Galaxy's
Greatest Comic' (2000AD
for the uninitiated.) A year later, during which much time was spent
knocking out spec scripts and trying to evade my dole officer, I finally
landed that first job, a story called 'Harmony' for the 'Judge Dredd
Megazine'. The commissions kept coming, over the next few years I
illustrated characters such as Holocaust 12, Slaine and Judge Dredd,
culminating in two fully painted 48 page graphic novels. The first
was a 'Judge Dredd Batman' crossover called 'Die Laughing' published
in 1998, the follow-up an Elseworlds book for DC Comics, 'Batman Demon'
in 1999. Other work in this period included props and promotional
pieces for the excellent Channel 4 TV series 'Spaced' and a 25 x 50
foot canvas backdrop for the Prodigy
(completed in spray-paint with fellow 2000AD artist and friend
Jason
Brashill.)
In 2000 I began working
as a concept artist for Video games, first with Virgin studios in
London, then 3 years later for Artificial Mind and Movement (A2M)
in Montreal. During this time I began freelancing for Wizards of the
Coast painting Magic cards, a privilege that I continue to enjoy to
this day. I am also currently working on a creator owned graphic novel
with 2000AD and Wildstorm regular Robbie Morrison, I'll be posting
updates on this project as and when we get a chance to get some content
done.
I live in Montreal with
my lovely partner Annabel and my equally lovely two daughters Rebecca
and Jaimie.
jim@jimmurrayart.com
