Russ Nicholson

Russ studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, which later became part of Dundee University, Scotland and moved to England in the 1970s where, save for a brief sojourn in Papua New Guinea, he has lived and worked ever since.

Russ Nicholson is best known for his black and white fantasy art. He has contributed to many notable game related titles, such as The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, first in the illustrated series of Fighting Fantasy game books by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone; further illustrating 16 more in the series. He has also illustrated many creatures in the original UK contribution to the first edition of the Fiend Folio Advanced Dungeons and Dragons game book, and the six original published "episodes" of 'The Fabled Lands' created by Dave Morris and Jamie Thomson, and numerous Games Workshop products, including Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Warhammer 40,000 and in their magazine White Dwarf.

For over forty years Russ has produced work for a wide range of companies and publishers, including Puffin, Pan, Collins, Hodder and Stoughton, TSR, Games Workshop, Hoggshead Publishing, DC Thomson, Le Grimoire and Scriptarium (fr). His work has been reproduced in over twenty countries. He also spent many years as college art lecturer. In addition, he drew the album cover (False Weavers) for Santa Cruz anarcho-folk punk band, Blackbird Raum.