Stephen Embleton

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 . 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 to the centre – repres...

I was asked to design and illustrate the cover an amazing anthology of short stories and poetry by young African emigrants who have found themselves journeying – for whatever reason – to Australia. Something I personally understand, finding yourself in a strange land with strange people, trying to figure out where you fit into the world. THE BRIEF AND THE SYMBOLS: The team of Dr Doris Asante, from the James Cook University, Australia along with editors Eugen Bacon and Dominique Hecq, asked me to create a symbolically infused cover that brought in two key Ghanaian symbols – and wow, SYMBOLS ARE MY THING! The first is the "fern", from the Adinkra symbol "Aya" embodying endurance, defiance against adversity, resourcefulness, and independence. I wanted to have it redrawn as a painted, brush symbol to give it some life and texture. The base shapes, I used a fluid infinity shape. The second is the Sankofa bird, symbolising the need to reflect on the past, to build a succe...