17+ Best dark fantasy book designers for hire in the United States

Candice

Iowa City, IA, United States

Award-winning fantasy illustrator. 100% hand-made with no generative AI. Providing cover design, typography, marketing assets, and more!

Genres: Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Science Fiction, Gaming & LitRPG, and New Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Bovard Studio, Inc.

Charles

Seattle, WA, USA

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Illustrator - Book covers and interiors. Charlie believes in a future where somehow, against all odds, we make it.

Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, LGBTQ Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Coyote & Crow

Daniel

Springfield, MO, USA

I love books, and I want to help with yours! After 15+ years and 100s of projects, I know what it takes to make your book look its best!

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Short Story, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Digital Media Revolutions

Phillip

San Diego, CA, USA

Sci-fi and fantasy book covers that are bold, stylish, and marketable. Many covers in the Aethon Books catalogue. Covers from $1000.

Genres: Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Fiction, Space Opera, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Keith

Indianapolis, IN, USA

Freelance illustrator and designer specialized in games and children's media, creating energetic and fantastical art.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Humor & Comedy, Gaming & LitRPG, Sports & Outdoors, Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, and Christian Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
MegaCon Games
Penguin / DK Publishing / BradyGames
Indiana Wesleyan University

Travis

Louisville, KY, USA

Fantasy map illustrator. Clients include Penguin Random House and Sourcebooks.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

Sourcebooks
Kidsbooks Publishing

Kurt

Burlington, VT, USA

Illustrator with a passion for wrangling the wild and weird into narrative compositions of drama.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, and Action & Adventure.

Work experience:

Fakelove - A New York Times Company
Self-employed

Laurel

Simi Valley, CA, USA

I am a professional illustrator and comic artist who creates magical worlds for audiences to wander into.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, and Romance.

Work experience:

Self-employed
LifeOmic
Vensure Employer Services

Eric

Saint Charles, MO, USA

illustrator specializing in fantasy horror and history.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Steampunk, Science Fiction, and Dystopian.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Steve

Seattle, WA, USA

I paint spaceships and other things. Freelance illustrator and commissioning art director with 15 combined years in those drivers seats.

Genres: Space Opera, Science Fiction, Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Military Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Fantasy Flight Games

Gene

New York, NY, USA

Full-service design studio specializing in cover art and branding for indie authors and independent publishers.

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Contemporary Romance, Romance, and Historical Romance.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Neil

Berkley, MI, USA

Book designer specializing in novels, offering a select interior design service for budget-conscious self-publishers.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Contemporary Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Chick Lit, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

HarperCollins Publishers
Self-employed

Arthur

Fargo, ND, USA

Freelance artist/illustrator with a love of all things fantasy and sci-fi.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Urban Fantasy, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Rachel

Mesquite, NV, USA

I'm an illustrator with 10 years of experience as a freelancer in the publishing space. Whatever your needs, I'm here to help!

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Paranormal Romance, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed
King Show Games

Nathan

Omaha, NE, USA

I am an illustrator specializing in digital inking. I create chapter headings, maps, character sketches and author merchandise.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's, Gaming & LitRPG, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Samrae

New Bern, NC, USA

Illustrator specializing in Children’s and Fantasy publication with a classical and whimsical style.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, and Gaming & LitRPG.

Work experience:

Self-employed

Melissa

Maynardville, TN, USA

Award-winning cover designer and interior formatter with over ten years experience. Specializing in Fantasy and typography based designs.

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Middle Grade, and New Adult.

Work experience: