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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: 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.
Designer: Bailey M.
Designer: Margarita C.
Designer: Margarita C.
Designer: Barış Ş.
Designer: Bailey M.
Designer: Alexander N.
Emails to Fellow Sinners
Designed by Alexander N.
Available to hire"This cover design is a rare case of an idea arriving effortlessly while I was reading the book. Daniel’s book is a collection of fictional emails sent to unknown recipients, exploring character through subtext rather than plot. I wanted the cover to suggest a cast of distinct voices, while the tile-style typography nods to the writing’s wry, comic tone. Daniel is a returning client, and our strong rapport played a big role in the cover’s success."
Designer: Vanessa M.
Indifferent Universe
Designed by Vanessa M.
Available to hire"The cover feels playful, chaotic, and a bit unhinged. The hand drawn type and bold illustration match the A.I.’s ironic, intrusive voice. It signals a strange, funny, and slightly unsettling novel about art, humanity, and meaning."
Designer: Zuza M.
Designer: Zuchal R.
Twelve and a Half Summers
Designed by Zuchal R.
Available to hire"From the outset, Ria wanted a laid-back, cozy, homey feel. The goal was to invite readers into the container house and the characters’ everyday life. I showed them doing simple, intimate activities—baking and reading—anchored in a backyard container home that grounds the story in closeness and routine. Vibrant yet balanced tones keep the cover engaging while preserving a calm, welcoming mood."
Designer: Barış Ş.
Designer: Alexander N.
The Museum of Morality
Designed by Alexander N.
Available to hire"The Museum of Morality is set in a converted Victorian schoolhouse whose layout carries clear metaphorical weight. Silvia and I agreed the building itself should drive the design. Each level houses an experiment or artefact of moral philosophy, which I translated into simple, bold illustrations. The goal was to create intrigue by hinting at key story elements, while the winding snake echoes the central character and her quiet influence over the narrative."
Designer: Kathy L.
Mr. Bangles Causes a Ruckus
Designed by Kathy L.
Available to hire"Mr. Bangles Causes a Ruckus follows a robin who loves waking up early to sing his heart out—much to the neighborhood’s dismay. As he plays new instruments, dons wilder outfits, and sings louder each day, chaos ensues. The cover puts his playful personality front and center, with a bright, simple background and bold, easy-to-read fonts that echo his noisy antics."
Designer: Bailey M.
Designer: Roderick B.
Young Gun In New York
Designed by Roderick B.
Available to hire"The cover was designed to evoke a sense of intrigue, placing the character into a well defined setting. Mood above all else. Aesthetically, I was obviously going for a noir feel, but with a modern twist (in its style). The angled smoke plumes in the distance and the smoke from his cigarette to give a bit of movement and dynamism to what could have been too static a scene."
Designer: Barış Ş.
Designer: Betty M.
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