Susan Hilton
Illustration
Featured projects
Penguin Book Cover award, adult fiction, Norwegian Wood (front)
My entry for Penguin's book cover award, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. The cover shows Naoko's body as an instrument that she (and the silhouette of her hair) is playing which alludes to the darker themes of passion, music and mental illness.
Cover for Howls Moving Castle (based on Folio Society Brief)
This book cover fulfils a brief based on the closed Folio Society competition for Howls Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. The cover shows Howl's castle on the hillside which is covered with a constellation in the shape of triangles to represent the blue suit cut to shreds. The colours red and blue reflect the red and blue suit in the book. The castle forms the teeth of the skull of a fire demon. On the bank of flowers on the front cover there is the scarecrow. The light from Howl's window forms a beacon that illuminates the running Sophie and Howl on the back cover. The smoke on the front cover forms the silhouettes of two faces.
Batsford Prize 2019, Being Human, The fates
This is a triptych of the three fates. The first of the fates, from left to right, is Arachne the one who weaves. The second fate, the one who determines the length of the thread, is Hecate. The last fate cuts the thread and is a banshee. This image was made by a large-scale pencil sketch that was then digitally coloured.
Penguin Book Cover award, adult fiction, Norwegian Wood (back)
This image shows the spine and back cover of my entry for Norwegian Wood. It makes use of Naoko's hair flowing into a forest which Naoko's symbol, a white butterfly, is flying up from. The two red cardinals come from the first chapter and represent the couple. The spine is based on a guitar's fretboard.
Susan Hilton
My aim is primarily to tell stories that are enriching and provide a form of entertainment and intrigue.
I frequently use mixed media of both practical and digital to give texture to my pieces. Symbols and metaphors are important and add depth to the illustrations. Like vanitas, my work is often dark in tone and suitable for older teens and young adult audiences. Sketching and drafting are key to what I do and I would love to be involved in work such as story boarding, illustrating stories and concept art.