Art History: The Croglin Vampire

Filed by: Darren on December 31, 2006 at 21:32
Filed In: Art

This is one of my all-time favourite fantasy art images:

The Croglin Vampire, copyright © Les Edwards

The title of the picture is 'The Croglin Vampire', the artist is Les Edwards (whose website I've become intimately re-acquainted with over the past few weeks), and I first saw this picture in a copy of White Dwarf magazine, years and years ago, when I was but a scrawny, spotty, wargaming teenage geek.

It was part of a double-page spread of assorted fantasy art, and it stood out from the rest of the artwork on display by a mile. Atmospherically I think it's a rather excellent piece; the vampire positively oozes menace, and the portrayal is a far cry from the traditional starched-collar and evening dress of the classic-but-tired Bela Lugosi look. Incidentally, on Les' website he explains that the image isn't meant as a tribute to Nosferatu, but is based on a 'true story'... chilling.

The first time I met Les in person was at one of the first Fantasycons I attended, I think it was in Birmingham about ten or twelve years ago. I think I recognised him from a panel he'd been on the day before, and determined to say hello, I screwed up my fan-boy courage, and crossed over to the table where he was sitting.

"Um, hi." I said. "I'm a big fan of your work."

"Oh. Thanks." said Les.

Okay... different tack, perhaps?

"I, er, I particularly like The Croglin Vampire. Saw it in White Dwarf years ago..." I stammered.

"Oh. Thanks." said Les.

And that was pretty much that.

Of course, that was just my first stab at conversation, and once I'd started running Les's website (and that of his artistic alter-ego, Edward Miller) I quickly discovered that both Les and his lovely wife Val are both incredibly warm and friendly people. That slightly subdued public exterior hides a sharp and biting wit - as you can probably tell from some of Les's images, particularly his Xmas cards - and sitting next to the two of them at the Fantasycon banquet is definitely to be recommended for entertainment value, if you can somehow wangle an invite to the appropriate PS Publishing table...

Did I mention that Les and Val are rather wonderfully generous as well? When Jo and I announced (prematurely, foolishly) that we'd almost finished the house extension (this was back in January; how we laughed at our naivité when we started in on the decorating in February...) Val and Les told us to pick out a set of art prints to brighten up our bare walls. Of course, one of the ones I insisted on picking was The Croglin Vampire. It's going to hang on the wall on my office / study, and will serve as a constant reminder of the wisdom of occasionally saying 'hello' to strangers at conventions. Even if it does make you sound like a fan-boy...

Anyway, that whole long-winded preamble is my way of announcing that I've finished the re-vamps of both www.lesedwards.com and www.edwardmiller.co.uk. Design-work by Les himself - so naturally it looks fantastic - programming and html by me. Well, except for some of the trickier bits of PHP, which I had to sub-contract to my mate Andy, who's been doing this sort of thing in his sleep for years. Unlike me. I started learning the lingo in November...

The official go-live date is tomorrow, but both sites are actually live now, so you can get yourself a sneaky preview if, like me, you're actually online at 9.30 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

(What? You are? Bugger off an have a beer, you fool!)

Filed on: December 31, 2006
Filed under: Art
Tagged with: fantasy-art | Les-Edwards | vampire |

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2 Responses to 'Art History: The Croglin Vampire'

Ed on January 1st, 2007 3:06 pm

Thought the picture looked familiar. Used to have a copy of the Best New Horror anthology it adorned the cover of.
Ariel on January 1st, 2007 9:17 pm

It's a classic, and no mistake :)

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