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Illustrated Book Covers
Looking for artistic design inspiration? Browse these illustrated book covers designed by professionals on Reedsy. See one you love? Get your own illustrated cover from that designer on our marketplace.
Designer: Barış Ş.
Designer: Marta D.
The Dragon Liberator: Escapade
Designed by Marta D.
Available to hire ⏺"The cover showcases the main character of the novel, Fendrel, and his dragon, hinting at the plot with eye-catching details, such as Fendrel’s pendant. The goal was to create a semi-realistic illustration reminiscent of classic epic fantasy covers, while making it appealing to a younger audience."
Designer: My Lan K.
A War of Hearts and Fire
Designed by My Lan K.
Available to hire ⏺"This Young Adult Romantasy is high in emotion and action, and I wanted to show that with the three main characters in a dynamic composition with the title. The fire background hints at magic and war. I wanted to make the characters' different personalities clear through their expression. The FMC is determined and fierce, and is trapped in a love triangle between her charming best friend with a heart of gold and a cunning and mysterious stranger."
Designer: Owen G.
Designer: Caitlin B. A.
A Minute Before Infinity
Designed by Caitlin B. A.
Available to hire ⏺"As the second book in the series, this cover reflects the growth and development of details within the story. It showcases a more complicated and metaphorical design while referencing our first cover's use of the hand and mysterious color palette. Here, we wanted to represent the series' infinite theme with an hourglass and its immersive writing style by adding a faint figure within it."
Designer: Barış Ş.
Designer: Natalia J.
The Fool and the Sparrow
Designed by Natalia J.
Available to hire ⏺"The cover reimagines The Fool tarot card composition through a contemporary lens. Framed like a tarot card, the design contrasts a light background with a red nebula cutting through the night sky, hinting at danger and the romance in the story. The male figure and sparrow reflect the story’s duality, blending mysticism and intrigue into the composition."
Designer: Margarita C.
Designer: Stephanie H.
Decedes Dream
Designed by Stephanie H.
Available to hire ⏺"The cover for Decede’s dream aims to show the struggle between good and evil which is the underlying theme of the book. The author requested certain characters to be present on the cover, I have decided to depict these in motion to reflect the fast pace of this action packed epic fantasy for young adult readers. The title is a nod to the particles created by the swords which play an important role in the story."
Designer: Richard L.
Designer: Alejandro C.
Highest Price
Designed by Alejandro C.
Available to hire ⏺"Inspired by the timeless image of a knight confronting a giant—echoing Don Quixote—this illustration captures the epic clash in a bold, contemporary way. I chose the peak dramatic moment, the instant of collision, for maximum impact. Strong movement and a balanced palette give the cover a timeless, epic quality while helping it stand out in today’s market. It remains one of my strongest pieces in the genre."
Designer: Paul P.
Surrender
Designed by Paul P.
Available to hire ⏺"When I was first approached by Lee Schneider to design Surrender, book one in his futuristic Utopia Trilogy series, we both agreed that it shouldn't look anything like a sci-fi novel. The resulting cover designs (including books two and three – Resist and Liberation), which feature a recurring dystopian eye motif and stylised landscapes, are all realised in bright, distinctly non-sci-fi colours."
Designer: Heather V.
Designer: Aline B.
Each of Us
Designed by Aline B.
Available to hire ⏺“For Each of Us, I wanted the cover to feel like a joyful circle of friendship. The girls are seen from above, holding hands and inviting the reader into their shared world. Whimsical botanicals and vibrant colors add an extra touch of sweetness, while their expressive faces keep the tone playful and warm. The composition reflects the story’s message: different backgrounds, one strong bond.”
Designer: Zuza M.
Designer: Zuza M.
Designer: Owen G.
Designer: Joshua G.
Pawns of Salistya
Designed by Joshua G.
Available to hire ⏺"This cover shows my craft at its best: meticulous notes from the manuscript shaped every detail. The green flames and lime eyes reflect the protagonist’s unique power; her teal dress symbolizes the union of her birth kingdom and marriage kingdom. But the knife reveals she is no passive queen: she is an assassin meant to kill her husband, the king. The exposed back, sharp type, crown, and dark circle hint at spicy romantasy, royal stakes, and new-moon magic."
Designer: Caitlin B. A.
Two Infinite Things
Designed by Caitlin B. A.
Available to hire ⏺"For the first book in the series, the author felt it was important to represent a narrative element on the cover, so we chose the hand holding a mouse. This engaging and peculiar imagery paired with a deep night sky created a magical, mysterious tone that reflects this unique book's crossover genre of YA sci-fi, magical realism, thriller and drama."
Designer: Dali W.
Ying
Designed by Dali W.
Available to hire ⏺"For Ying, I created a luminous painted world inspired by the landscapes of Yunnan and Guizhou, using vibrant colours and traditional mica pigments. For the cover, I wanted to capture a young girl’s wonder, quiet determination, and bond with the sacred animal of the snowy mountain. I also hand-designed the typography, drawing inspiration from the visual rhythm of Tibetan script. "
Designer: Felix D.
Pink Trumpets
Designed by Felix D.
Available to hire ⏺"The book traces the author’s Salvadoran family’s journey to America through interviews and anecdotes. An initial illustration of El Salvador’s national tree, the maquilíshuat, evolved into genealogical family portraits with the tree at the center. The wallpaper background echoes the author’s roots: a toile de jouy reimagined with Salvadoran scenes—xuc dancers, pupusa stands, and the torogoz—layering culture into a domestic setting."
Designer: My Lan K.
Scorching Summit
Designed by My Lan K.
Available to hire ⏺"This cover shows the two main characters against an autumnal background. I wanted to show their dynamic through pose and expression. They are back-to-back, showing how they start as enemies but eyeing each other to add romantic interest. The book has some level of spice, which is hinted at by how the MMC is holding the hose."
Designer: Alex D.
It Could Have Been Murder
Designed by Alex D.
Available to hire ⏺"The cover captures the fragile boundary between imagination and consequence. The river of blood flowing from the title suggests that ideas themselves carry consequences, shifting from controlled theory to real danger. The figures moving through the scene evoke anonymity, strategy, and an encroaching threat, reflecting a story driven by tension, moral ambiguity, and the unsettling moment when control begins to slip."
Designer: Alex D.
Erase Me
Designed by Alex D.
Available to hire ⏺"Portraying the protagonists within their phone screens immediately communicates key themes of the novel: internet culture and its impact on identity, intimacy, and modern relationships. The subtle emotion and subtext in each character’s face also tell their own quiet stories and draw the reader in. The cover’s uniqueness comes from its illustration style and aesthetic, with an unusual colour scheme that suits the blend of dark themes, dark humour, and intimacy."
Designer: Driss C.
The Parts We Play
Designed by Driss C.
Available to hire ⏺"The Parts We Play is an introspective and coming-of-age story, focusing on the relationship between Reagan and Asher. To reflect the depth of their journey, the composition had to feel both peaceful and dynamic. The low perspective, coupled with the large space left to the brush title and the cloudy sky achieves this "greater than" feeling. The colours are complementary, and create a clear divide between the van, the ground, and the sky."
Designer: Victoria H.
Whalers
Designed by Victoria H.
Available to hire ⏺"The tone of this cover needed to feel oppressive and isolating in its colour palette, to match the accusations the protagonist is faced with after a schoolgirl goes missing. Throughout the story, he often feels like he’s drowning, plus the book is set in a small whaling town, and so the image of waves also felt really important, as did a harpoon, targeted at the protagonist's car in place of a whale. "
Designer: Mark T.
Designer: My Lan K.
Ink & Ambition
Designed by My Lan K.
Available to hire ⏺"For this cover, I wanted to show the characters' personalities through their stance and expressions. The FMC is stubborn, passionate and sarcastic, and constantly clashes with the charismatic and flirty MMC. The background shows a campus corridor, and a paper and pen hints at the FMC doing a journalism major. "
Designer: Eva P.
Designer: Eva P.
Designer: Sofía S.
Hell-Bound
Designed by Sofía S.
Available to hire ⏺"For Hell-Bound's cover, Bethany wanted to have her main character portrayed alongside a fantasy-looking frame. Painting the character (Renata) was a smooth ride, that's my speciality after all. However, the frame was a different story, so I tried different approaches and ended up mixing graphic design with my painterly style. The result is cohesive and pleasant."
Designer: Roderick B.
Lifted Ink
Designed by Roderick B.
Available to hire ⏺"I felt this book — and its title alone — called for a handcrafted feel with a surreal edge. The stark blue paired with pale yellow detailing creates a dreamlike mood, pushing the limits of the format while remaining minimal at first glance. The half-finished 'inking' gives it a sense of movement, which I hope adds to the overall feel and represents the story well, without being explicitly on-the-nose."
Designer: Sofía S.
Landsome Roads
Designed by Sofía S.
Available to hire ⏺“Landsome Roads needed an evocative, cozy, beautiful vibe, so I designed a full character-and-landscape painting with floating elements and an old castle in the background. I played with the color palette and cloud shapes to add depth and perspective. The lettering was the biggest challenge — after many iterations, I landed on a personalized curved font filled with pastel colors. Rebecca loved the result, and we’re now working on the next books in her saga.”
Designer: Stefano B.
Designer: Sofía S.
The Dragon and the Nightingale
Designed by Sofía S.
Available to hire ⏺"The Dragon and the Nightingale might look simple in its design, but it turns out I love to complicate my designs. I hand painted both the dragon and the bird so they would have a bit of a sketchy, pencil-ish look, and filled them with carefully selected colors to give the cover an electric feel. I finished it up with glowing particles and a sober font for the title, and here's the eye-catching result!"
Designer: Roderick B.
Whistle Punk Falls
Designed by Roderick B.
Available to hire ⏺"This cover came together almost instinctively, without much planning. It felt like the only way it could exist, so I worked quickly to preserve that energy, which mirrors the stories’ aesthetic. The bright yellow was essential from the start, with stark contrasts reinforcing the punk spirit. A handcrafted approach and minimal palette create immediate impact, while the flowers counter the sharp, rebellious character. A appropriately 'punk' clash of imagery."
Designer: Eva P.
Designer: Pascale H.
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