La Belle Dame sans Merci was created in response to a request to generate an effective and memorable album artwork for a band.
Although the commission was aborted by the original client, I persevered in creating the image nonetheless – a decision which paid off when the illustration was later used by the awesome and talented members from London-based progressive metal band ‘Until Rain’ for their album ‘SEASON V’.
This painting was also shortlisted at the AOI World Illustration Awards 2017
The painting is meant to illustrate an ambiguous relationship between a hopeful, naive male character and an apparently vulnerable yet deceitful femme fatale figure. The title is a clear reference to John Keats’ ballad bearing the same name and which also features an enigmatic encounter which doesn’t end too well.
