Stephen Embleton

This was one of the best briefs to get stuck into – illustration and design with multiple styles for two characters. Tirain and Deor, two diametrically opposed characters, face one another, worlds colliding in dramatic ways. Both characters stand as individuals, representing their individual worlds. ❤️💫 It was a thrill to channel by admiration for Alphonse Mucha in the stylised, flat (sparse on detail and modelling) design oriented imagery. And having the author, Marius du Plessis briefing me and working together for the two months crafting and finessing the work. “The almost saint-like iconography, the halos, the foiling, I am OBSESSED. ” – Marius du Plessis How it started... KHALA Rough Sketch (Stephen Embleton 2026) How it ended... Cover Illustration & Design (Stephen Embleton 2026) Get your copy (not yet!) and find out more at Mirari Press. The Characters: One of the things that was interesting to portray was two diametrically opposed characters, standing as individuals, ...

The Applied African Speculative Fiction project was and is an excellent initiative to be part of: I got to co-create my short story, 'A Lever is a Complex Machine' (a Sauúti story!) AND I also had the pleasure of designing the logo:   THE DESIGN: a person's imagination spawning ideas beyond technology (circuits), beyond the earth (baobab), beyond the galaxy (planets/stars) and into the infinity of space. I had initially attempted colour versions with a more solid "baobab", but realised the circuit board idea was wasn't strong enough. We all settled on the final simpler, black & white design. The Applied African Speculative Fiction book was published by Ping Press in collaboration with BSFA Vector, The ASFS and the Nommo Awards with many contributors and supporters, including fellow Sauútis: Wole Talabi, Xan van Rooyen, and Eugen Bacon, and with two Sauúti-based short stories from J. Umeh and Stephen Embleton. With stunning artwork from Jana Kleineberg . A...

  This was such a great project to be involved in: co-creating my short story, ' A Lever is a Complex Machine' (a Sauúti story!) with fellow Durbanite 🇿🇦 Blaize Kaye (who did the science heavy lifting). African SF writers were paired with a science expert to craft short stories and essays to imagine futures, and find solutions to global issues.   And with stunning artwork from Jana Kleineberg . Available free to download The Applied African Speculative Fiction book was published by Ping Press in collaboration with BSFA Vector, The ASFS and the Nommo Awards with many contributors and supporters, including fellow Sauútis: Wole Talabi, Xan van Rooyen, and Eugen Bacon, and with two Sauúti-based short stories from J. Umeh and Stephen Embleton. I also had the pleasure of designing the logo :

Mirari did it again! Cover Illustration and Design Stephen Embleton (2026) Mirari asked me to illustrate firstly the reissue of their first published author and title "The Tilted Pentagram" to coincide with the release of Book 2, "Archive of the Sixth" in what will be "The Last Reformation Series". It was a privilege to be asked to represent these in any way I could, and as usual, Mirari had an excellent, if challenging brief: STAINED GLASS! *Hat tip to the talent behind the Aqualim font from Burntilldead Studio . September 2026 Launch BOOK 1 Stephen Embleton (2026) The Tilted Pentagram Detail The Tilted Pentagram Detail The Tilted Pentagram Detail BOOK 2 Stephen Embleton (2026) Archive of the Sixth Detail Archive of the Sixth Detail Archive of the Sixth Detail Archive of the Sixth Detail The process: The variations Then, part of the brief was to design a labyrinth! I set myself the challenge of creating a unique labyrinth with two entrances and two paths ...