Science Fiction & Fantasy Illustration
Giclée Prints, Original Paintings & Private Commissions
For decades, I illustrated sci fi and fantasy book jacket art, jigsaw puzzles, natural history books as well as concept art for the computer games industry. Currently I'm focused on my own project, MoonAliens, and working on a collection of my favourite British birds. I hope you enjoy browsing through the galleries.
What is a Giclée Print?
The word giclée is derived from the French verb gicler "to spray". A giclée print is the term commonly used to describe the highest quality digital printing process, using pigment based inks printed onto superior archival quality paper. The quality and clarity of a giclée print is an almost exact reproduction of the original painting. Images are printed onto watercolour décor 245gsm archival fade resistant stock, with a 300dpi resolution. It all sounds fancy, but it's the highest quality print you can get anywhere on Earth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
what is a giclée print?
Giclée print is the term commonly used to describe a fine art digital printing process, which combines pigment based inks with highest quality paper to achieve prints of superior archival quality, light fastness and stability. The quality and clarity of a giclée print is an almost exact reproduction of the original painting. The word giclée is derived from the French verb gicler "to spray".
Images are printed onto watercolour décor 245gsm highest quality archival and fade resistant stock, with a 300dpi resolution. To summarise, it's the next best thing to owning an original.
Images are printed onto watercolour décor 245gsm highest quality archival and fade resistant stock, with a 300dpi resolution. To summarise, it's the next best thing to owning an original.
How long does it take for a print to arrive?
It depends where in the world you live, and how amazing your postman is. If you live in the UK, it should only take a few days. Anywhere else in the world, please allow a week to ten days. Outside of Earth, then allow a month or two. Outside our Solar System, then best allow a couple of light years.
Are any of your originals for sale?
Yes, they are... some of them. If you look in GALLERIES & SHOP above, then follow the ORIGINALS FOR SALE link. I also take on private commissions. If interested, please click on CONTACT above.
where do you get your ideas?
Sainsbury's and sometimes Tesco's (joking of course) but ideas can come from anywhere... yet mostly from observing the natural world. I have been drawing and painting ever since I was a small human. I would copy all the animals in my many nature books and visit the local pond, making notes of all the creatures I'd find there. In my teens, I began reading fantasy literature, especially the Elric and the Hawkmoon novels of Michael Moorcock. This began my love of Fantasy and Science Fiction...
My nature art then started to change somewhat and become a bit more weird. Birds I drew would have two or maybe even three heads, and be the size of castles. Clusters of shells would become ethereal space cities. Frogs and toads would become long and s t r e t c h e d. And so began my journey into the exotic colourful visions of the mind, where one can have great fun exploring the mystical and the other-worldly... a journey that I still walk today I'm pleased to say, and always will.
My nature art then started to change somewhat and become a bit more weird. Birds I drew would have two or maybe even three heads, and be the size of castles. Clusters of shells would become ethereal space cities. Frogs and toads would become long and s t r e t c h e d. And so began my journey into the exotic colourful visions of the mind, where one can have great fun exploring the mystical and the other-worldly... a journey that I still walk today I'm pleased to say, and always will.
How do you become an artist?
The answer is simply - by drawing, often. Also, look at the work of other artists. If possible, join a local Art Society and befriend other creative people. Always have a sketchbook on the go; take it with you everywhere. If you seriously want to pursue Art as a career, it may mean leaving your home town in order to go to Art College... yet once there, you will learn plenty, have fun and make many new like-minded friends.
There is no "proper" defined route to becoming an Artist. As well as the advice above, all I can say is... create the art you love the most. Step out of your comfort zone from time to time, but strive towards being in a position where you are creating work you enjoy, and getting paid for it. To get there though, may take a little time... and quite a lot of hard word and most of all, patience.
There is no "proper" defined route to becoming an Artist. As well as the advice above, all I can say is... create the art you love the most. Step out of your comfort zone from time to time, but strive towards being in a position where you are creating work you enjoy, and getting paid for it. To get there though, may take a little time... and quite a lot of hard word and most of all, patience.
who are your favourite artists and INFLUENCES?
Difficult question as I love most art, and greatly admire those who follow their creative dreams... whether it be painting, music, acting, being a poet or whatever. When time allows I will come back too this question and name some of my favourites.
Are you from earth?
As far as I know I am. I once had a call from a Cold Caller, asking what local leisure facilities I used; such as Cinema, Gyms, Libraries etc, that sort of thing. I could have been rude and just hung up, but I chose not to as the caller seemed quite well mannered.
I began by politely saying that I couldn't talk for long, but would give him 5 minutes..
"That's OK, pleased you can help" the person at the other end of the phone said.
"I'm leaving the area soon though" I explained, "So I may not be of much help really" I said.
"Ok... Are you moving far away?" He asked.
"I am, yes... a very long way away" I replied
"Where to... if you don't mind me asking?" He asked
"No, not at all", I replied... "I'm moving to Jupiter!"
There was a long silence. (No surprise)...
"Er Jupiter?" he replied, with hesitation and disbelief in his voice.
"Yes - the big gas giant, with the big red eye. The one just past Mars. You must have heard of it", I replied
"Er yes, 'course I have... but you're kidding me right?", He teased.
"I didn't think you'd believe me. Few people do" I said in my best hurt voice
Making it up as I went along, I began telling the caller all about Jupiter and my visit to Earth. I was sure he'd soon hang up, but he didn't. Instead he just kept asking me more and more questions, and I kept coming up with answers. Forty minutes later we were still talking.
I guess I was a on a roll, telling him all about the planets I'd visited over the centuries, and the things I found strange about being on Earth. I was enjoying myself, and I honestly believe the guy on the other end of the phone really believed me too. Even I believed what I was saying!
The call eventually ended, with the guy even apologising for initially not believing me. He wished me well with my journey back to Jupiter, and likewise I wished him all the best on Planet Earth. I told him I thought Earth was quite a good planet to live on, yet found it baffling that some people enjoyed eating rice pudding and cauliflower cheese... and ate desserts with small spoons, unthinkable on Jupiter!
So... next time you get a cold caller, instead of hanging up why not have some fun.
I began by politely saying that I couldn't talk for long, but would give him 5 minutes..
"That's OK, pleased you can help" the person at the other end of the phone said.
"I'm leaving the area soon though" I explained, "So I may not be of much help really" I said.
"Ok... Are you moving far away?" He asked.
"I am, yes... a very long way away" I replied
"Where to... if you don't mind me asking?" He asked
"No, not at all", I replied... "I'm moving to Jupiter!"
There was a long silence. (No surprise)...
"Er Jupiter?" he replied, with hesitation and disbelief in his voice.
"Yes - the big gas giant, with the big red eye. The one just past Mars. You must have heard of it", I replied
"Er yes, 'course I have... but you're kidding me right?", He teased.
"I didn't think you'd believe me. Few people do" I said in my best hurt voice
Making it up as I went along, I began telling the caller all about Jupiter and my visit to Earth. I was sure he'd soon hang up, but he didn't. Instead he just kept asking me more and more questions, and I kept coming up with answers. Forty minutes later we were still talking.
I guess I was a on a roll, telling him all about the planets I'd visited over the centuries, and the things I found strange about being on Earth. I was enjoying myself, and I honestly believe the guy on the other end of the phone really believed me too. Even I believed what I was saying!
The call eventually ended, with the guy even apologising for initially not believing me. He wished me well with my journey back to Jupiter, and likewise I wished him all the best on Planet Earth. I told him I thought Earth was quite a good planet to live on, yet found it baffling that some people enjoyed eating rice pudding and cauliflower cheese... and ate desserts with small spoons, unthinkable on Jupiter!
So... next time you get a cold caller, instead of hanging up why not have some fun.
Have you ever seen a ufo?
Yes I have... honestly! I really have seen a UFO... or should I say UFO's.
On the 23rd July back in 2010 I saw some "other-worldly" objects in the sky. To this day I'm no wiser what they were. I was driving through Northamptonshire, near the town of Rushden. It had been a lovely summer day, and was still quite light, even around 9.30pm. As I drove along the dual carriageway, I happened to notice to my right across the fields, a bright orange object floating just above the horizon.
Obviously I needed to keep my eyes on the road ahead, even though there was not much traffic. I kept glancing through the window, intrigued as to what the orange object could be. It looked like a giant belisha beacon. Soon enough, I pulled over into a lay-by, hoping to better observe whatever the object was. However, when I looked again, there were now TWO objects! Where had the other one come from?
Meanwhile, cars were driving past me. I was surprised no one else was stopping to get a better look at these strange glowing lights. So there I was, by the side of the dual carriageway watching in fascination, two bright orange objects.
The two orbs began slowly rising higher into the sky. Next it gets more weird. A third orb suddenly appears, as if it has just "blinked on". There are now THREE orange balls/orbs, pulsating softly, hovering against the evening sky in an equilateral triangle formation. As you can imagine, I'm trying to rationalise in my mind what I'm seeing. Being an artist of science fiction and fantasy, I am well used to thinking up the strange and the wonderful, but this is real life. "Who is ever going to believe me when I try and explain this?" I thought as I continue to watch the orbs.
They were not moving, and eerily, there was no sound coming from them, not even a faint hum. One of the orbs broke formation, then a second orb moved away in the opposite direction. Suddenly, they both disappear, and "blinked out", gone! The remaining orb moved slowly to the right, faster, then faster still shooting across the sky. "Nothing can fly that fast" I said to myself.
I looked all over the sky, a little sad that the display was now over. I then noticed in the distance a faint light which was getting brighter and brighter, and larger. Suddenly there was another light, then another... then yet another! There were now FOUR orbs. High in the sky, on this warm summer evening, I watched four mysterious orb shapes hovering above the town of Rushden. The orange lights blinked on then blink off, then periodically the formation would dissipate, as the orbs moved away in varying directions, before darting across the skies and vanishing. Next, one by one, they reappeared again. I had never seen anything like this, ever.
I observed this spectacle for approximately ten minutes, before the orbs gently glided away towards Oxfordshire and into the sunset. The question in my mind arises whether or not the orbs were anything to do with Croughton airbase near Bicester, as this is roughly the direction they fly towards as they fade from view.
Annoyingly, frustratingly, my mobile phone had no battery charge in it, having run out of juice ten minutes into my journey over an hour earlier from Oxfordshire. Of all the occasions I've ever needed a charged up phone. The next day, I got in touch with the local police. I was doing my best to recount what I had seen to the officer on the other end of the phone. He politely listened, taking in what I was trying my best to explain... that is, until he asked me what my job was. With an ironic laugh I said that I was a science fiction artist... then came the silence. Yes, the policeman hung up on me; can't understand why.
No surprise, but the same thing happened when I phoned the local newspaper. I tried to phone the Croughton airbase, only to hear bureaucratic instructions about filing a report and that they were not allowed to discuss such things, national security and all that. I even went there in person when I next happened to be near the airbase, but despite my best persuasion, no one would listen to me or see me. Apparently, only one in a hundred so-called UFO sightings are ever officially reported.
My friends naturally thought I'd gone totally bonkers. "It had to happen sooner or later" they'd say, "Danny has at last flipped. No surprise really; years spent creating aliens and now he thinks he's seen their mothership, poor Mr Flynn". Even my parents, who know I would not make something like this up, sounded skeptical. I went online - to hopefully find explanations, yet didn't really find anything.
“Orange Orbs in the Sky” I typed in the search engine. It seemed I was not the only one who had seen orange lights. Better still, many people had uploaded video clips. Despite plenty of sightings and eye witness accounts similar to my own, I could not find one explanation as to what the orbs were, other than possibly being chinese lanterns, which they definitely were not. Lanterns are not the size of double-decker buses and do not fly across the sky at alarming speed.
The next afternoon, my Dad phoned me. “Danny, me 'n your mum had a good laugh last night after you told us about your alien friends and their imminent invasion... and yet, I think we may believe you... "Quick - switch on the radio”.
It transpired that the orange orbs had also been spotted over Wales and Ireland, with many people phoning their local radio stations. I listened to eye witness accounts similar to my own... four orange orbs, blinking on and off, shooting across the sky, reappearing somewhere else... more or less what I'd seen the previous night.
I tracked down the only book on the subject of the Orange Orbs written so far, "The Complete Story of the Worldwide Invasion of the Orange Orbs", by Terry Ray. Mr Ray is a former military pilot, and believes the orbs are of extra-terrestrial origin. He states his case with plenty of convincing evidence. He has a map of the USA with all the orb sightings, along with the accounts of hundreds of people who claim to have seen the orbs. Mr Ray suggests the creatures inside the orbs are gently preparing us as a species for an eventual "proper" definitive introduction at some point in the future, once most of us have heard about them.
I don't know if what Mr Ray says is true, or even if I believe him. I respect that he, like myself, definitely saw the orbs and it affected Mr Ray enough to compel him to research the orb phenomena in detail and publish a book about the orbs. Mr Ray does not think the aliens are harmful or a danger to us in any way, the opposite in fact. If they really are alien, and can fly across the vast distances of space, it would seem they a quite superior to us, at least as avionics engineers.
The big question is... why would they be here on Earth, and want do they want with us? I still often look up at the sky, in the hope of seeing the orange orbs again, but so far it has not happened. All I know is that back in the summer of 2010 I definitely saw something that cannot be fully explained. l feel quite privileged, honoured even, that I saw four orange "alien" spaceships.
If Mr Ray is sure the creatures are harmless, then I only wish the aliens had chosen to meet me that night, especially as they must have been aware I was was watching them. I would have happily taken them to a pub for a few beers, and would have loved to see their expressions when I told them my profession was thinking up aliens. I'm not sure how I would have explained the aliens to the bar staff though, other than to say some strange friends had just dropped by to see me, from far far away.
On the 23rd July back in 2010 I saw some "other-worldly" objects in the sky. To this day I'm no wiser what they were. I was driving through Northamptonshire, near the town of Rushden. It had been a lovely summer day, and was still quite light, even around 9.30pm. As I drove along the dual carriageway, I happened to notice to my right across the fields, a bright orange object floating just above the horizon.
Obviously I needed to keep my eyes on the road ahead, even though there was not much traffic. I kept glancing through the window, intrigued as to what the orange object could be. It looked like a giant belisha beacon. Soon enough, I pulled over into a lay-by, hoping to better observe whatever the object was. However, when I looked again, there were now TWO objects! Where had the other one come from?
Meanwhile, cars were driving past me. I was surprised no one else was stopping to get a better look at these strange glowing lights. So there I was, by the side of the dual carriageway watching in fascination, two bright orange objects.
The two orbs began slowly rising higher into the sky. Next it gets more weird. A third orb suddenly appears, as if it has just "blinked on". There are now THREE orange balls/orbs, pulsating softly, hovering against the evening sky in an equilateral triangle formation. As you can imagine, I'm trying to rationalise in my mind what I'm seeing. Being an artist of science fiction and fantasy, I am well used to thinking up the strange and the wonderful, but this is real life. "Who is ever going to believe me when I try and explain this?" I thought as I continue to watch the orbs.
They were not moving, and eerily, there was no sound coming from them, not even a faint hum. One of the orbs broke formation, then a second orb moved away in the opposite direction. Suddenly, they both disappear, and "blinked out", gone! The remaining orb moved slowly to the right, faster, then faster still shooting across the sky. "Nothing can fly that fast" I said to myself.
I looked all over the sky, a little sad that the display was now over. I then noticed in the distance a faint light which was getting brighter and brighter, and larger. Suddenly there was another light, then another... then yet another! There were now FOUR orbs. High in the sky, on this warm summer evening, I watched four mysterious orb shapes hovering above the town of Rushden. The orange lights blinked on then blink off, then periodically the formation would dissipate, as the orbs moved away in varying directions, before darting across the skies and vanishing. Next, one by one, they reappeared again. I had never seen anything like this, ever.
I observed this spectacle for approximately ten minutes, before the orbs gently glided away towards Oxfordshire and into the sunset. The question in my mind arises whether or not the orbs were anything to do with Croughton airbase near Bicester, as this is roughly the direction they fly towards as they fade from view.
Annoyingly, frustratingly, my mobile phone had no battery charge in it, having run out of juice ten minutes into my journey over an hour earlier from Oxfordshire. Of all the occasions I've ever needed a charged up phone. The next day, I got in touch with the local police. I was doing my best to recount what I had seen to the officer on the other end of the phone. He politely listened, taking in what I was trying my best to explain... that is, until he asked me what my job was. With an ironic laugh I said that I was a science fiction artist... then came the silence. Yes, the policeman hung up on me; can't understand why.
No surprise, but the same thing happened when I phoned the local newspaper. I tried to phone the Croughton airbase, only to hear bureaucratic instructions about filing a report and that they were not allowed to discuss such things, national security and all that. I even went there in person when I next happened to be near the airbase, but despite my best persuasion, no one would listen to me or see me. Apparently, only one in a hundred so-called UFO sightings are ever officially reported.
My friends naturally thought I'd gone totally bonkers. "It had to happen sooner or later" they'd say, "Danny has at last flipped. No surprise really; years spent creating aliens and now he thinks he's seen their mothership, poor Mr Flynn". Even my parents, who know I would not make something like this up, sounded skeptical. I went online - to hopefully find explanations, yet didn't really find anything.
“Orange Orbs in the Sky” I typed in the search engine. It seemed I was not the only one who had seen orange lights. Better still, many people had uploaded video clips. Despite plenty of sightings and eye witness accounts similar to my own, I could not find one explanation as to what the orbs were, other than possibly being chinese lanterns, which they definitely were not. Lanterns are not the size of double-decker buses and do not fly across the sky at alarming speed.
The next afternoon, my Dad phoned me. “Danny, me 'n your mum had a good laugh last night after you told us about your alien friends and their imminent invasion... and yet, I think we may believe you... "Quick - switch on the radio”.
It transpired that the orange orbs had also been spotted over Wales and Ireland, with many people phoning their local radio stations. I listened to eye witness accounts similar to my own... four orange orbs, blinking on and off, shooting across the sky, reappearing somewhere else... more or less what I'd seen the previous night.
I tracked down the only book on the subject of the Orange Orbs written so far, "The Complete Story of the Worldwide Invasion of the Orange Orbs", by Terry Ray. Mr Ray is a former military pilot, and believes the orbs are of extra-terrestrial origin. He states his case with plenty of convincing evidence. He has a map of the USA with all the orb sightings, along with the accounts of hundreds of people who claim to have seen the orbs. Mr Ray suggests the creatures inside the orbs are gently preparing us as a species for an eventual "proper" definitive introduction at some point in the future, once most of us have heard about them.
I don't know if what Mr Ray says is true, or even if I believe him. I respect that he, like myself, definitely saw the orbs and it affected Mr Ray enough to compel him to research the orb phenomena in detail and publish a book about the orbs. Mr Ray does not think the aliens are harmful or a danger to us in any way, the opposite in fact. If they really are alien, and can fly across the vast distances of space, it would seem they a quite superior to us, at least as avionics engineers.
The big question is... why would they be here on Earth, and want do they want with us? I still often look up at the sky, in the hope of seeing the orange orbs again, but so far it has not happened. All I know is that back in the summer of 2010 I definitely saw something that cannot be fully explained. l feel quite privileged, honoured even, that I saw four orange "alien" spaceships.
If Mr Ray is sure the creatures are harmless, then I only wish the aliens had chosen to meet me that night, especially as they must have been aware I was was watching them. I would have happily taken them to a pub for a few beers, and would have loved to see their expressions when I told them my profession was thinking up aliens. I'm not sure how I would have explained the aliens to the bar staff though, other than to say some strange friends had just dropped by to see me, from far far away.
why do you wear odd socks?
I have always worn odd socks. I thought it was was illegal not to (I only recently discovering this is not true). Even if I had ten legs, I'd still wear odd socks. During the summer I try and avoid having to wear socks at all, even on cold days. This gives my feet the chance to harden, in readiness for the long winter months ahead.
do you take on private commissions?
Yes I do... I always consider it a great honour when someone likes my work enough to want me to paint something just for them.
First, I ask for a brief description of the sort of thing you're looking for - including the painting's size etc, and especially how soon you need the painting by. I then get back to you with a rough estimate of the price and time scales.
Next, I then doodle some rough sketches of the intended finished painting. Once you're happy with the composition, and in agreement on both the pricing and the proposed painting, I would then make a start on the painting. At this stage, a third of the agreed price of the finished painting is required as a deposit.
The price for a Fantasy/Sci-fi themed painting can range anywhere between £300 - £3,000 depending on the complexity of the artwork, the size and the time it takes to complete. The Natural History paintings range from £100 up to £500, again depending on detail and the time it takes to complete the painting.
I always try to be fair with my pricing and hopefully affordable, yet an original painting takes time to create. If you would like your painting professionally framed, this can be arranged. I have an excellent framer friend who can do this at a reasonable, additional cost.
For all genuine enquiries, please get in touch via the CONTACT link above, thank you...
First, I ask for a brief description of the sort of thing you're looking for - including the painting's size etc, and especially how soon you need the painting by. I then get back to you with a rough estimate of the price and time scales.
Next, I then doodle some rough sketches of the intended finished painting. Once you're happy with the composition, and in agreement on both the pricing and the proposed painting, I would then make a start on the painting. At this stage, a third of the agreed price of the finished painting is required as a deposit.
The price for a Fantasy/Sci-fi themed painting can range anywhere between £300 - £3,000 depending on the complexity of the artwork, the size and the time it takes to complete. The Natural History paintings range from £100 up to £500, again depending on detail and the time it takes to complete the painting.
I always try to be fair with my pricing and hopefully affordable, yet an original painting takes time to create. If you would like your painting professionally framed, this can be arranged. I have an excellent framer friend who can do this at a reasonable, additional cost.
For all genuine enquiries, please get in touch via the CONTACT link above, thank you...
