2006 Presenter Full Presenter List

John Howe

Illustrator

John Howe is the Vancouver-born author and illustrator who has spent most of his career working abroad. John’s illustrations have become synonymous with a myriad of children’s books, including those of J.R.R. Tolkien and fantasy writer Robin Hobb. He studied at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Strasbourg, France, and has worked as lead artist, with fellow illustrator Alan Lee, to breathe life and imagery into Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings.

He also contributed to the film adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He has worked on two documentaries There and Back Again and Lord of the Brush, and has authored several collections of works including Myth and Magic and John Howe Artbook, which traces 20 years of narration in images. He is currently working on a book on fantasy art and an illustrated edition of Beowulf.

John lives in Switzerland with his wife Fataneh, an illustrator and soprano, and their son Dana.