Head of Zeus, Bloomsbury Publishing

Dan Jones|Castles

Dan Jones | Head of Zeus, Bloomsbury Publishing

Commissioned by Head of Zeus, part of Bloomsbury Publishing, Studio Duco created the cover illustration and 14 full-page interior illustrations for bestselling historian Dan Jones’ Castles: A Fortified History of the World.

Spanning more than 3,000 years of history, the book explores some of the world's most remarkable castles and fortifications, from the ancient walls of Troy to the great medieval strongholds of Europe and beyond.

Each illustration was carefully researched and developed to capture the architecture, atmosphere and historical character of its setting. Working closely with the publishing team, we combined historical accuracy with our distinctive etching-style illustration, using intricate linework, texture and a limited colour palette to bring these extraordinary places to life.

It was a wonderfully ambitious commission, and a real pleasure to contribute to a book that celebrates the history, ingenuity and enduring fascination of castles.

Design & AD @jessie.books