Simon Bisley (born March 4, 1962 in Lincolnshire, England) launched his career in the 1980s with magazine and album cover art, including a t‑shirt design for Kerrang!. His break into comics came when, still a student, he sent a dramatic painting of a robot and baby to 2000 AD, which led Pat Mills to hire him for ABC Warriors in 1987. Bisley soon became a major artist on Sláine and Judge Dredd, earning acclaim for his gritty, muscular artwork.
In the early 1990s, Bisley redefined the DC antihero Lobo. His 1990 mini-series Lobo: The Last Czarnian and 1992’s Lobo’s Back showcased his distinctive style and dark humor, helping elevate the character’s popularity.
Bisley’s talents also extended to crossover projects, most notably Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgement on Gotham, which earned him the coveted 1992 Eisner Award for Best Artist. Beyond comics, he produced album covers for artists like Danzig, game box art, and contributions to Heavy Metal magazine since 1997. His original Lobo #1 cover painting sold for a record $192,000 at auction in 2021.
Throughout his prolific career, Bisley has worked across diverse media — magazines, music, games, film posters — leaving an indelible mark on 1990s popular culture and beyond.
Bisley began drawing at age six and is predominantly self-taught, having left college after a year due to lack of guidance. His influences span Frank Frazetta, Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dalí, Richard Corben, Bill Sienkiewicz, Egon Schiele, rock album art, and graffiti. This fusion of high art with street aesthetics informs his intense, vivid visual style.
He typically works with acrylics on bristol board, avoiding airbrushes, and emphasizes bold strokes, dramatic lighting, and rich textures. His subconscious-driven process allows dynamic spontaneity; he often “gives up control” to let raw creativity lead.
Interviewed at New York Comic Con 2022, Bisley reflected on maturing from a social, bar-sketching artist into a more focused professional, valuing connections with collectors and offering guidance to emerging talents. His work’s impact on others is clear: his ABC Warriors run spawned numerous imitators within a year.
Though known for intense, often gritty subjects, Bisley views it as a form of expression rooted in personal growth—channeling lived experiences into visceral art.
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