He's a digital photography artist now, but has a background as a "painter and illustrator" and prior to 1990 he was doing freelance book covers and worked at a "busy advertising agency".
Re: Cover Artists 2
Re: Cover Artists 2
Re: Cover Artists 2
Still, a Californian artist working on Spectrum games in the 1980s would have been pretty unusual, and the name Canny's common enough that I doubt he is the only illustrator with that surname.
Re: Cover Artists 2
Could it be Paul Canny? As thanked at the bottom of the kidsplay ad.
https://sfandfantasy.co.uk/php/series-l ... bsection=8
![Image](https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9780048233592-uk.jpg)
Which also leads us to Paul Canny Illustration & Design in Leceistershire
But I cannot find a direct link between the games on KidsPlay and Paul Canny.
Googling further on Paul Canny:KIDSPLAY thanks this magazine and the following companies for the generous donation of their services: Camel Advertising, G & L Services, Rowley Studios, Friarsgate Studios, Pre-Press Services, Crystal Design, Ampersand, Steel Splash, Printing Centre, Lyne Printers, Willbond Artists, Paul Canny, D.J. Rowe and Inter Mediates.
https://sfandfantasy.co.uk/php/series-l ... bsection=8
And that cover looks in line with Solomon's Key.pb The Princess of Flames Ru Emerson Issued: 1987 ISBN 0048233595 Cover artist: Paul Canny
![Image](https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9780048233592-uk.jpg)
Which also leads us to Paul Canny Illustration & Design in Leceistershire
But I cannot find a direct link between the games on KidsPlay and Paul Canny.
Re: Cover Artists 2
It could be. A Leicester-based artist would make more sense and the images are similar enough in style. The date of the book cover (1987) also fits. It seems more promising to me than Thomas Canny. However, there's not much information in the listing for the Leicester firm and the illustration style is pretty generic 80s airbrushing, so it's hard to be confident. It doesn't help that no signature is visible on the book cover.
I checked ISFBD for Paul Canny and the cover you show is the only one they have for him.
The Kidsplay case is an odd one. There is no illustration on the preserved inlay (I've never seen the original). Yet Paul Canny and David Rowe are credited in the advert. But neither is credited on the inlay itself (though others are).
Re: Cover Artists 2
There is a copy of the book for sale on ebay with signature visible, unfortunately it looks different, so this may be a red herring:Rorthron wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:06 am It could be. A Leicester-based artist would make more sense and the images are similar enough in style. The date of the book cover (1987) also fits. It seems more promising to me than Thomas Canny. However, there's not much information in the listing for the Leicester firm and the illustration style is pretty generic 80s airbrushing, so it's hard to be confident. It doesn't help that no signature is visible on the book cover.
I checked ISFBD for Paul Canny and the cover you show is the only one they have for him.
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/T5wdKS2H/image.png)
Re: Cover Artists 2
It's pretty similar, though. Only the P and C are different, and it's not unusual for artists to change their signature. It's not conclusive, but we have two artists with similar styles in similar fields at the same time with probably the same name and similar signatures. It seems to me likely they are the same person.Stefan wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:15 am There is a copy of the book for sale on ebay with signature visible, unfortunately it looks different, so this may be a red herring:
![]()
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Re: Cover Artists 2
That's true. We have seen very different signatures from the same artists. For instance, the Steve Weston signatures are very different in some cases. The Ring Wars signature that @StooB shared a few days back is very different from the one on Starglider II or the one seen on the Onslaught poster. Sometimes artists had to adapt the signature to the illustration itself. Many times they didn't include a visible signature, or it was located out of frame.Rorthron wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:56 am It's pretty similar, though. Only the P and C are different, and it's not unusual for artists to change their signature. It's not conclusive, but we have two artists with similar styles in similar fields at the same time with probably the same name and similar signatures. It seems to me likely they are the same person.
In this case, I truly believe Paul Canny is the artist behind those U.S. Gold covers. In my opinion both art styles match perfectly, despite being different signatures.
Best regards
Re: Cover Artists 2
Yes, it must certainly be him. The link with Kidsplay is Camel who did all the advertising for both US Gold and Gremlin.Audionautas wrote: ↑Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:30 am
In this case, I truly believe Paul Canny is the artist behind those U.S. Gold covers. In my opinion both art styles match perfectly, despite being different signatures.
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Re: Cover Artists 2
Yes, I think we have enough information to be confident attributing the covers to Paul Canny. If we want further evidence, we could contact the Leicester illustration firm. We might not get a response and it might not be the same person, but a similar approach led to identifying Bren the Mapmaker from Dun Darach, so it might be worth a go.
Re: Cover Artists 2
LED Storm: Ian Naylor
Per signature (written vertically in dark panel just to left of centre)
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/9 ... /LED_Storm
Per signature (written vertically in dark panel just to left of centre)
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/9 ... /LED_Storm
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Re: Cover Artists 2
Another great find! @StooB From now on I think we'll have to use an x-ray machine in order to find those hidden Steve Weston signatures.StooB wrote: ↑Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:50 am Another Firebird Hot cover with a tiny Steve Weston signature:
The Comet Game
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Best regards
Re: Cover Artists 2
Just looking at these Firebird Hot covers... Costa Capers has a JP signature on the rightmost bottle.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... sta_Capers
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... sta_Capers
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Re: Cover Artists 2
I have been looking at the US Gold inlays pavero scanned and saw a few artist names.
Alienstorm: Brian Butterfield and Carn Standing
Per inlay: "Artist sculptors, Brian Butterfield and Carn Standing". The cover appears to be a photograph of a model or sculpture.
Black Magic: Thomas J Clement
Per C64/128 inlay which has the same cover.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source= ... 5774706076
Bounty Bob Strikes back: K Samin?
Per signature on cover (on beam to the left of Bob's head)
Chicago 30s: AZ Pirlo
Per signature
E-motion: D Behr?
Per signature (lower left)
Alienstorm: Brian Butterfield and Carn Standing
Per inlay: "Artist sculptors, Brian Butterfield and Carn Standing". The cover appears to be a photograph of a model or sculpture.
Black Magic: Thomas J Clement
Per C64/128 inlay which has the same cover.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source= ... 5774706076
Bounty Bob Strikes back: K Samin?
Per signature on cover (on beam to the left of Bob's head)
Chicago 30s: AZ Pirlo
Per signature
E-motion: D Behr?
Per signature (lower left)
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Re: Cover Artists 2
Chicago 30s is a very well known ALFONSO AZPIRI cover. His signature was always quite easy to spot on his covers. It's odd it's not credited yet on the ZXDB.
Regards
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Re: Cover Artists 2
Well, the ZXDB entry doesn't even have the correct game title!Audionautas wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 10:31 am Chicago 30s is a very well known ALFONSO AZPIRI cover. His signature was always quite easy to spot on his covers. It's odd it's not credited yet on the ZXDB.
Regards
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Re: Cover Artists 2
Hi
Other ALFONSO AZPIRI covers not credited on the ZXDB yet are:
* CORSARIOS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... /Corsarios
* DESPERADO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/9 ... /Desperado
* DESPERADO 2. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... esperado_2
* GONZZALEZZ. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... Gonzzalezz
* ICE BREAKER. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... ce_Breaker
* JAI ALAI. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... m/Jai_Alai
* LORNA. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... trum/Lorna
* METROPOLIS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... Metropolis
* MITHOS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... rum/Mithos
* MUNDIAL DE FÚTBOL. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... %C3%BAtbol
* POOGABOO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... m/Poogaboo
* SIDERAL WAR. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4 ... ideral_War
* SIRWOOD. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4 ... um/Sirwood
* TITANIC. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... um/Titanic
* TRIGGER. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... um/Trigger
* TUAREG. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... rum/Tuareg
* VEGA SOLARIS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... ga_Solaris
* ZONA 0. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... rum/Zona_0
* OPERA SUPER SPORTS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... per_Sports
* PACK MONSTRUO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... k_Monstruo
Alfonso Azpiri also did covers for AFTER THE WAR (finally released with a Luis Royo cover), ALHAMBRA TALES (unreleased game), BAOUM! (released as TRIPLE COMANDO by Dro Soft), ZOMBI (Ubi Soft game re-released by MCM in Spain, not sure if the Spectrum version included that cover, unlike the Amstrad CPC: https://www.todocoleccion.net/videojueg ... x230295135 ), ZERO KELVIN (unreleased Topo Soft game), SATÁN (released by Dinamic Software with a Luis Royo cover), TEMPTATIONS (MSX game by Topo Soft not released on the Spectrum).
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/BLfP91gn/After-The-War.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/rDzrSTsM/Alhambra-Tales.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/2bdbz8cF/Baoum.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/B8KPVC2z/Satan.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/CRtf72nD/Zero-Kelvin.jpg)
Best regards
Other ALFONSO AZPIRI covers not credited on the ZXDB yet are:
* CORSARIOS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... /Corsarios
* DESPERADO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/9 ... /Desperado
* DESPERADO 2. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... esperado_2
* GONZZALEZZ. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... Gonzzalezz
* ICE BREAKER. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... ce_Breaker
* JAI ALAI. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... m/Jai_Alai
* LORNA. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... trum/Lorna
* METROPOLIS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... Metropolis
* MITHOS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... rum/Mithos
* MUNDIAL DE FÚTBOL. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... %C3%BAtbol
* POOGABOO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... m/Poogaboo
* SIDERAL WAR. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4 ... ideral_War
* SIRWOOD. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4 ... um/Sirwood
* TITANIC. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... um/Titanic
* TRIGGER. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... um/Trigger
* TUAREG. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... rum/Tuareg
* VEGA SOLARIS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... ga_Solaris
* ZONA 0. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... rum/Zona_0
* OPERA SUPER SPORTS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... per_Sports
* PACK MONSTRUO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... k_Monstruo
Alfonso Azpiri also did covers for AFTER THE WAR (finally released with a Luis Royo cover), ALHAMBRA TALES (unreleased game), BAOUM! (released as TRIPLE COMANDO by Dro Soft), ZOMBI (Ubi Soft game re-released by MCM in Spain, not sure if the Spectrum version included that cover, unlike the Amstrad CPC: https://www.todocoleccion.net/videojueg ... x230295135 ), ZERO KELVIN (unreleased Topo Soft game), SATÁN (released by Dinamic Software with a Luis Royo cover), TEMPTATIONS (MSX game by Topo Soft not released on the Spectrum).
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/BLfP91gn/After-The-War.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/rDzrSTsM/Alhambra-Tales.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/2bdbz8cF/Baoum.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/B8KPVC2z/Satan.jpg)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/CRtf72nD/Zero-Kelvin.jpg)
Best regards
✓ Reviewed
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Re: Cover Artists 2
I have credited Alfonso Azpiri in all these entries on the ZXDB through the SC Preservation Tools, except Desperado that is being edited by @StooBAudionautas wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 11:23 am Hi
Other ALFONSO AZPIRI covers not credited on the ZXDB yet are:
* CORSARIOS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... /Corsarios
* DESPERADO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/9 ... /Desperado
* DESPERADO 2. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... esperado_2
* GONZZALEZZ. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... Gonzzalezz
* ICE BREAKER. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... ce_Breaker
* JAI ALAI. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... m/Jai_Alai
* LORNA. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... trum/Lorna
* METROPOLIS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... Metropolis
* MITHOS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... rum/Mithos
* MUNDIAL DE FÚTBOL. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... %C3%BAtbol
* POOGABOO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... m/Poogaboo
* SIDERAL WAR. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4 ... ideral_War
* SIRWOOD. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/4 ... um/Sirwood
* TITANIC. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... um/Titanic
* TRIGGER. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... um/Trigger
* TUAREG. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... rum/Tuareg
* VEGA SOLARIS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... ga_Solaris
* ZONA 0. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... rum/Zona_0
* OPERA SUPER SPORTS. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... per_Sports
* PACK MONSTRUO. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... k_Monstruo
Regards
✓ Reviewed
Re: Cover Artists 2
Yes, it looks the same signature as HATE, though he clearly couldn't be bothered with half the letters this time!
Incidentally Dave Bracher is not listed in ZXDB as the artist for HATE. I presume it's just part of the backlog.
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Re: Cover Artists 2
Yes, that's another David Bracher for the Go! re-release.Audionautas wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 12:59 pm except Desperado that is being edited by @StooB
Regards
He doesn't usually sign with his full name, most of his signatures are just "DB", At the moment he's not even in ZXDB himself. His entry and around 15 other covers credited to him are waiting for @druellan to process through the preservation tools.
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Re: Cover Artists 2
Hi
I have added the following covers through the Preservation Tools
* LA ESPADA SAGRADA (Topo Soft, 1990). Cover art by RAMÓN GONZÁLEZ TEJA as per instruction manual.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... da_Sagrada
* TOP BY TOPO 2 (Topo Soft, 1991). This cover was made with pictures taken from previous covers by Alfonso Azpiri and Fernando San Gregorio, so, IMHO both artists should be credited for this cover.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... _By_Topo_2
* GREMLINS 2: LA NUEVA GENERACIÓN (Topo Soft, 1990). Cover art by GREG WINTERS, just added to ZXDB. He's an American cover artist who did several film posters and video game covers in the 80s/90s mainly.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... aci%C3%B3n
Some links.
- https://www.originalfilmart.com/products/gremlins-2-b2
- https://spelpappan.se/2013/08/this-is-h ... -was-made/
- http://www.boxequalsart.com/index-page-g-ii.html
- https://www.mobygames.com/developer/she ... erId,9268/
* THE GOONIES (U.S. Gold, 1985). Cover art by GREG WINTERS.
And now I have some doubts about the next one.
* TOUR '91 (Topo Soft, 1991).
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... um/Tour_91
According to the instruction manual the cover is credited to A.G.E Foto Stock. This is a Spanish stock photography company (https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/AboutUs.aspx), so my question is, have we credited stock photography agencies in the past or we just add illustrator names to the ZXDB?
Best regards
I have added the following covers through the Preservation Tools
* LA ESPADA SAGRADA (Topo Soft, 1990). Cover art by RAMÓN GONZÁLEZ TEJA as per instruction manual.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... da_Sagrada
* TOP BY TOPO 2 (Topo Soft, 1991). This cover was made with pictures taken from previous covers by Alfonso Azpiri and Fernando San Gregorio, so, IMHO both artists should be credited for this cover.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... _By_Topo_2
* GREMLINS 2: LA NUEVA GENERACIÓN (Topo Soft, 1990). Cover art by GREG WINTERS, just added to ZXDB. He's an American cover artist who did several film posters and video game covers in the 80s/90s mainly.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... aci%C3%B3n
Some links.
- https://www.originalfilmart.com/products/gremlins-2-b2
- https://spelpappan.se/2013/08/this-is-h ... -was-made/
- http://www.boxequalsart.com/index-page-g-ii.html
- https://www.mobygames.com/developer/she ... erId,9268/
* THE GOONIES (U.S. Gold, 1985). Cover art by GREG WINTERS.
And now I have some doubts about the next one.
* TOUR '91 (Topo Soft, 1991).
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5 ... um/Tour_91
According to the instruction manual the cover is credited to A.G.E Foto Stock. This is a Spanish stock photography company (https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/AboutUs.aspx), so my question is, have we credited stock photography agencies in the past or we just add illustrator names to the ZXDB?
Best regards
✓ Reviewed
Re: Cover Artists 2
I hope you don’t mind me submitting all your hard work to MobyGames?