Illustrations

Since 2025 I’ve been creating a Mythical Menagerie inspired by the illustrations of M. Ensoll on my folklore book covers.

Red Dragon: In Lake District legend, a dragon sleeps under Blencathra, guarding the final resting place of King Arthur and his most loyal knights.

Golden Dragon: Inspired by the writings of Andrzej Sapkowski. Like Witchers, gold dragons are mutants and cannot reproduce naturally. As shapeshifters they are able to walk freely in the human world. A gold dragon named Villentretenmerth disguises himself as a knight named Borch Three Jackdaws.

Blue Dragon: In Korean mythology, the blue dragon is one of the four guardian deities – blue dragon, white tiger, red phoenix, black tortoise – is the guardian of the east and protector against evil spirits.

Green Dragon: Nidhogg is a Germanic dragon in Norse mythology who gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

Griffin: A symbol of strength and ferocity and the balance between light and dark. Griffin will protect you on your journey to the afterlife.

Unicorn: A wild woodland creature and symbol of purity and grace. It’s horn renders even the most poisoned of water, drinkable. Although not found in Greek mythology, it’s writers of natural history believed the Unicorn lived in India.

Treebeard: Inspired by Tolkien’s ent character, and the Oak Man and Apple Man of folklore.

Snow Lion: The emblem of Tibet and a symbol of power and strength, fearlessness, joy, the East and the earth element. Snow Lion is one of the Four Guardians – Snow lion, Garuda, Dragon, Horse.

Minotaur: The ‘monster’ of Greek mythology. The offspring of Pasiphae the wife of Minos, and a snow-white bull sent to Minos by the god Poseidon for sacrifice.