Illustrator Spotlight: Greg Rutkowski

Greg Rutkowski is one of the most recognized fantasy artists working today. His paintings have graced book covers, game cinematics, and gallery walls across the world. When I reached out to ask if he'd be interested in contributing to Eden's Rise, I wasn't sure he'd say yes. He did, and his work exceeded every expectation.

Born to Paint Fantasy

Greg was born in 1988 in Zgorzelec, Poland. He's been drawing since he was a few years old: pirates, superheroes, whatever his imagination conjured. By twelve he was winning regional competitions. By his mid-teens, he had found his north star in the works of Tolkien, Simon Bisley, and Frank Frazetta. That early formation shows in everything he does: his work carries the mythic weight of those influences while remaining entirely, unmistakably his own.

The Battle of Dyiundur

There's a battle at the heart of Eden's Rise that readers never fully see. The Battle of Dyiundur: dwarves against dragons, a catastrophic defeat that left a wound in dwarven culture so deep it still shapes the world of the novel decades later. The details are woven through the book in fragments: memories, monuments, propaganda. I always knew I wanted it illustrated. And I hoped Greg would do it.

He created the centerpiece battle scene: dwarven legionnaires and Berserkers under General Teanna, a young dwarven woman and hero of the empire, locked in a futile, desperate fight against dragons. A battle they would eventually lose. A battle that would echo for generations.

One of the inspirations we had aligned on early was based in Romantic style battle paintings, specifically William Sadler's Battle of Waterloo: that sense of chaos and grandeur rendered in sweeping, human detail. Greg delivered that and more. He wove in small details drawn directly from the novel, hints and references that readers will recognize and feel. And he brought General Teanna to life, created a real presence.

What makes this piece extraordinary is that Greg didn't create a digital illustration. He created a full-scale physical painting. My father was a painter, and I grew up learning that a painting is not just an image. It's texture. There is art in every stroke. Greg understands that, and was excited at the prospect of creating something with that level of complexity, his second ever battle painting. The result is breathtaking.

Working Together

I'll be honest: I was a little nervous reaching out to Greg. He has a strong reputation and a distinctive vision, and I wasn't sure how much room there would be for collaboration. I was wrong to worry. He is one of the nicest people I've worked with on this project: warm, responsive, and genuinely open to feedback.

The resulting painting is unmistakably Greg's: his vision, his hand, his dragons. But the process felt collaborative throughout. He actively sought feedback at every stage and made clear that honoring the source material mattered to him. That combination, a strong artistic voice that still makes room for the story, is rare, and I'm deeply grateful for it.

You can explore Greg's full portfolio at greg-rutkowski.com.

You'll be able to view Greg's painting for this book once pre-order starts.