Angus McBride (11 May 1931 – 15 May 2007) was a historical and fantasy
illustrator
An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicate ...
.
Early life
Born in London to Highland Scottish parents, Angus McBride was orphaned as a child, his mother dying when he was five years old, and his father in World War Two when he was 12. He was educated at the Canterbury Cathedral Choir School. He served his National Service in the
Royal Fusiliers
The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. It was known as the 7th Regiment of Foot until the Childers Reforms of 1881.
The regiment served in many war ...
, and afterward got a job as an advertising artist.
Career
Due to Britain's poor economic state immediately following
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, McBride found it necessary to leave for South Africa. In
Cape Town
Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
, he became a fairly well known and successful artist. However, he felt that he could not expand on his artistic plans in South Africa's small publishing industry. Consequently, in 1961, McBride moved back to England. He made his first works in educational magazines such as ''
Finding Out'' and ''
Look and Learn
''Look and Learn'' was a British weekly educational magazine for children published by Fleetway Publications Ltd from 1962 until 1982. It contained educational text articles that covered a wide variety of topics from volcanoes to the Loch Ness ...
'',
''World of Wonder'' and ''
Bible Story
The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) biblical languages ...
''. In 1975, he began to work with
Osprey Publishing
Osprey Publishing is a British publishing company specializing in military history formerly based in Oxford. Predominantly an illustrated publisher, many of their books contain full-colour artwork plates, maps and photographs, and the company p ...
's ''Men-at-Arms'' series.
As England's economy again suffered in the 1970s, McBride moved with his family back to Cape Town, and continued to work with British and American publishers. He continued to do realistic, historical illustrations for Osprey Publishing, as well as other such work for other military-history publishers (Concord publications, Blandford Press, etc.). A series of miniatures were produced by
Citadel Miniatures
Citadel Miniatures Limited is a company which produces metal, resin and plastic miniature figure (gaming), miniature figures for tabletop wargames such as ''Warhammer Fantasy Battle'' and ''Warhammer 40,000''.
In the past, Citadel Miniatures w ...
based on his illustrations within Medieval Warlords by Blandford Press.
In fantasy circles, McBride was well known for his illustrations for
Iron Crown Enterprises
Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE) is a publishing company that has produced role playing, board, miniature, and collectible card games since 1980. Many of ICE's better-known products were related to J. R. R. Tolkien's world of Middle-earth, but the ''R ...
' game ''
Middle-earth Role Playing
''Middle-earth Role Playing'' (''MERP'') is a 1984 tabletop role-playing game based on J. R. R. Tolkien ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'' under license from Tolkien Enterprises. Iron Crown Enterprises (I.C.E.) published the game until ...
'' (MERP) based on
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''.
From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlinson ...
's writings.
Although a few of his paintings are in oils, McBride mostly preferred to work in
gouache
Gouache (; ), body color, or opaque watercolor is a water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent (usually gum arabic or dextrin), and sometimes additional inert material. Gouache is designed to be opaque. Gouach ...
colours on illustration boards, making numerous detailed sketches of the composition before starting to paint.
In 2006, McBride moved to Ireland, where he continued to work. He died from a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
on 15 May 2007
In 2014, Scott Taylor of ''
Black Gate'', named Angus McBride as 9B in a list of The Top 10 RPG Artists of the Past 40 Years, saying "He is a master of his craft, and because of him an entire fanbase has a hugely detailed collection of windows in the Tolkien's world that otherwise might never have been available."
Illustrations
* ''Life of Christ'' (1979)
[ Apparently availabl]
here
but mislabeled as the book by Giovanni Papini
Giovanni Papini (9 January 18818 July 1956) was an Italian journalist, essayist, novelist, short story writer, poet, literary critic, and Italian philosophy, philosopher. A controversial literary figure of the early and mid-twentieth century, he ...
. French edition:
* ''Men-at-Arms'' (1977–2007) series
*''Elite ''series
*General Military series
*''Warrior ''series
*''Campaign ''series
For Iron Crown Enterprises:
*''
Middle-earth Role Playing
''Middle-earth Role Playing'' (''MERP'') is a 1984 tabletop role-playing game based on J. R. R. Tolkien ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'' under license from Tolkien Enterprises. Iron Crown Enterprises (I.C.E.) published the game until ...
''
*
Rolemaster
''Rolemaster'' (originally ''Role Master'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game published by Iron Crown Enterprises in 1980. The game system has undergone several revisions and editions since then.
Description
''Rolemaster'' is a fantasy ...
*''
Middle-earth Collectible Card Game''
For
Ladybird
Coccinellidae () is a widespread family of small beetles. They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in the United Kingdom; "lady" refers to mother Mary. Entomologists use the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles ...
Horror Classics Series:
* ''Dracula'' (1984)
* ''The Mummy'' (1985)
References
External links
Angus McBride work at Osprey PublishingAngus McBride illustrationsfor various
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''.
From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlinson ...
books
Art of the Genrein ''
Black Gate''
The Caged Eagle: Angus McBride and the Aquila of Legio II Parthica
{{DEFAULTSORT:McBride, Angus
1931 births
2007 deaths
Artists from Cape Town
Artists from London
British emigrants to South Africa
British illustrators
British people of Scottish descent
British fantasy artists
Role-playing game artists
Tolkien artists