Oloris 
Publishing is excited to announce the acquisition of the rights to artist/photographer John Cockshaw’s first book Wrath, Ruin and a Red Nightfall. This title is scheduled for release in 2014.
Wrath, Ruin and a Red Nightfall is an evocative collection of original art inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s descriptions of landscape within his grand mythology of Middle-earth. Focusing on this magnificent backdrop that earns the status of a character in its own right, the emphasis is on the natural world of Middle-earth as a great stage where its various cultures live out their struggles and victories. Combined with the forces of nature, good versus evil is played out at great distance.
The fruition of an almost decade-long photography and digital media project, the collection is accompanied by selective photographic studies illustrating how the artist sought to uncover Tolkien-esque qualities in varying locations. Reflective thoughts on the creative process during the project, selected quotes from the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien, and the inclusion of the artist’s own poetry highlight how the source text inspired the artist to craft his uniquely original vision of Middle-earth.
Artist John Cockshaw says that what he always wanted “… to accomplish with making art, whether it be a drawing, painting, photograph or photographic montage, is a mysterious and intriguing pull on the viewer. It’s about providing an invitation to enter and interpret the work aided by suggestive hints of a wider narrative – a little nudge to encourage the viewer’s imagination to come into play.”
Complementing this collection, the artist has included selections from his painting series Colour and Magic along with a presentation of sci-fi- and fantasy-themed film stills that represent his wider body of work. While the content of this wider work offers an intriguing contrast, certain thematic undercurrents link back to the influence of Middle-earth through the use of chosen imagery and such themes as finding one’s self and place within an expansive unfamiliar terrain; the threat of darkness within the shadows of nightfall; and the forces of good that arrive to act in opposition to wrath and ruin.
John Cockshaw is a painter/photographer and Tolkien enthusiast based in North Yorkshire (UK). Cockshaw studied Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University, earning an MA in Art and Design in 2003. His paintings have been exhibited in the North of England since 2007. As an artist and fan, he set out to create a collection of original artwork inspired by the extensive mythology of Middle-earth as found within The Lord of the Rings and its author’s wider writing.
“A talented photographer and artist, John uses the play of light and texture to draw the viewer into his fantasy landscapes. His images ignite the imagination, allowing you to create your own stories.” ~ Gerda März
The collection is photography based artwork that utilizes landscape, macro, and architectural photography gathered from extensive location scouting to depict evocative scenes and the dramatic geography of Middle-earth. The work establishes a style that alludes to both film cinematography and painterly illustration. Informed by descriptions of landscape, renowned illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe, as well as, aspects of the film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, and Howard Shore’s epic film score, the collection places much focus on Middle-earth as a living, breathing character – rooting it in the real and believable, yet suggestive of the fantastical, which is at the heart of this grand legendarium.
About Oloris Publishing
Oloris Publishing is a dynamic venture that seeks to expand the vision of traditional publishing by welcoming and showcasing vibrant, new voices, and embracing various media for their expression. We believe that the publishing process should be a true collaboration, in which our authors and illustrators are very involved so that their own voices truly shine. Visit us at olorispublishing.com, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Media Contact
Julie Dobbins
Publicity & PR Director
Julie@olorispublishing.com
