Bob Wakelin classic games covers art prints now available

Gryzor - Ocean Software Cover Art by Bob WakelinBob Wakelin, the artist behind some of the most iconic cover art of the 1980s, passed away in January last year – but now his family are offering prints of some of his work via Etsy, which left an indelible mark on the imaginations of games players in the 1980s.

Bob was best known for his iconic cover art for countless UK computer and video games releases during the 1980s and early 90s, many used by Liverpool-based Ocean and Imagine games, including Athena, Contra, Epic and Choplifter III.

Athena - Ocean Software Cover Art by Bob Wakelin

Some downthetubes readers will also recall he also provided some covers for Marvel UK and Starlord, ande also enjoyed a brief stint in a “post-punk/new wave band” called Modern Eonbefore he started drawing covers for Ocean Software.

His work as earned him true cult status in Britain, but sadly his games art wasn’t used in international releases, so he never quite received the recognition that he deserved abroad.

Artist Bob Wakelin, who died in January 2018

Artist Bob Wakelin, who died in January 2018

“I was told… that without my art, Ocean would not have been as successful,” Bob commented in an occasionally self-deprecating interview for RetroGamesMaster. “… I know that many people bought some pretty poor games because of my artwork, Ocean would occasionally ask me to put extra work into a piece because  the game wasn’t great – sorry, but at least the purchasers got some artwork they loved!

“I always did the best job I could within budget and time restraints and it’s great that so many people have such affection for my art.”

In his memory, his wife Gill Wakelin is carrying on his legacy, selling his bespoke designs worldwide. Bob’s prints are inspired by gaming covers, with a high quality silk finish, and his illustrations are also offered on greeting cards, t-shirts and tote bags.

Buy Bob Wakelin Art Prints here on Etsy | Bob Wakelin Art on Facebook

WEB LINKS

If you want to see more of Bob’s work, check out a sampling of his work here on Exotica.org  and here on Kotaku

There’s an interview with Bob Wakelin here about his career on RetrogamesMaster

Den of Geek’s tribute to Bob is here

Starlord 28th July 1978- Cover by Bob Wakelin

Starlord 28th July 1978- Cover by Bob Wakelin

Bob Wakelin created the covers for Starlord Issue 11 (featuring Ardeni Lakam from “Mind Wars”), Starlord 14 (featuring Carl Hunter from “Holocaust”) and Starlord 18 (Ardeni Lakam).

He also created covers for The Super Heroes Monthly (featuring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman).

Art by Bob Wakelin for Marvel UK's shirt-lived Thor comic (#2)

Art by Bob Wakelin for Marvel UK’s shirt-lived Thor comic (#2)

His  Marvel UK credits include Return of the Jedi (featuring Luke Skywalker), the short-lived Thor weekly and Tales of the Marvels: Inner Demons (featuring a drowning man)

With thank to David Hathaway-Price for alerting me to these prints



Categories: Art and Illustration, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Games, Obituaries, Other Worlds

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