About Jon Hodgson

At the time of writing I am in my mid 40s and live in Scotland with my wife and two children. I’ve been a professional creative for 20 years.

My career has spanned art direction, production management, set building, props making, graphic design, story boarding, historical illustration, card game art, board game art, novel covers, computer games cut scene art, educational illustration, video editing, and role-playing game art.

I am the owner of Handiwork Games, and exciting new Scotland-based games company.

I’ve also written a book on art for beginners, as well as contributing writing to numerous role-playing game titles. I wrote “The Eaves of Mirkwood” introductory scenario for Adventures in Middle-earth, along with numerous sections of other role-playing game titles. I’ve copy edited and developed card game rules, and have extensive ad copy writing experience.

I have directed dozens of gaming projects from inception to print ready files, and have managed an award winning team of creative writers, editors, illustrators, graphic designers, proofreaders and layout artists.

I trained as a “fine artist”, specialising in abstract painting, and had several gallery shows in the 1990s before running away to join the fantasy art circus.

Outside of genre art, I have worked for commercial clients across numerous, diverse fields. I’ve made art for beer bottles, and customer journey presentations for training shoe/sneaker manufacturers, I’ve worked with huge e-commerce consultancies, Eastern European fashion houses, and high-end clothing services in London. I even story boarded Bob the Builder.

I work with international clients over the internet. In short – distance is no object.

I use an Apple iMac, iPad Pro, Adobe CC, Procreate, ArtRage and a battered but friendly Wacom Intuos 4. As well as pencils and paper, and very occasionally actual real paint.

I also make monthly gaming maps, writing, videos and art on Patreon.

I helped my son bring his game The Forest Dragon to market via Kickstarter. It subsequently won 2 awards. The follow up, Bang & Twang has proved very popular, also winning a regional award for best card game.

A note on rates: I do not use a rate card. Each project and each client is different, with different needs, different circulation, different turnaround, different market, and different rights required. Each job is priced individually to best match your needs after discussion. I welcome all inquiries and am happy to talk you through the process via email, mobile or Skype call.

Services:
Illustration
Story boarding
Graphic Design
Art Direction
Creative Direction
Game Design
Video creation, including music

Selected Clients:
The BBC
Hot Animation
Accenture
Brewmedia/Wychwood
Emarsys
David & Charles
The Restory
Adidas
Hachette
Games Workshop
Paizo
Wizards of the Coast
AEG
Cryptozoic
Chaosium
Cubicle 7
Upper Deck
Z Man Games
Euromoney Magazine
Digital Artist Magazine
Imagine FX Magazine
Drumond Park
John Adams Trading