A Conversation With Senior Illustrator Steve Pickering and Art Director Mark Toner
On 23rd August 2020, Steve and Mark discuss the weird and wonderful world of illustrating science fiction and try to get inside why two grown men try to give image to the imaginations of writers in a concept-busting genre. You can see them chat from the surface of Naar 6 and an orbiting spacecraft on our Event Horizon Live stream. This is the gallery, showcasing their own contributions to the Shoreline of Infinity over the years, and having a look at the broader picture too. These are the illustrations not just of the stories but of our artists reflections on drawing the boundaries of science and literature.
The Art by Steve and Mark
Mark Toner
Beachcomber – the comic started in issue 3 with a kind of review of Skylark of Space by E E Smith. This is the first original story in the second ever comic and this is the first page.
Steve Pickering
The Stilt-Men of the Lunar Swamps by Andrew J Wilson
Steve Pickering
Overkill by Rob Butler
Mark Toner
Other Colours by Michael F Russell
Mark Toner
That Very Mab by May Kendall and Andrew Lang
Steve Pickering and Mark Toner
Space Enforcer 3000
One of the comics drawn by two artists simultaneously
Mark Toner
These Are The Ways by Premee Mohamed
Mark Toner
Colymbia by Robert Ellis Dudgeon
Steve Pickering
The Apple Bee by K E Macphee
Mark Toner
Junk Medicine by Die Booth
One of Mark’s CGI illustrations
Mark Toner
The Rest Is Speculation by Erik Brown
One of four illustrations for this story
Mark Toner
The Rest Is Speculation by Erik Brown
One of four illustrations for this story
Mark Toner
The Rest Is Speculation by Erik Brown
One of four illustrations for this story
Mark Toner
The Rest Is Speculation by Erik Brown
One of four illustrations for this story
Mark Toner
Daughter by Laura Young
Mark Toner
Splitting Up by Bo Balder
Sometimes the Art Director has to fill in some art at short notice and CGI is invaluable
Steve Pickering
Oh Baby Teeth Johnny With Your Radiant Grin, Let’s Unroll On Moonlight And Gin by Cat Hellisen
Steve Pickering
Full Contact by D A D’Amico
Steve Pickering
Spike by Lidia Molina Whyte
Mark Toner
A Crest of a Wave by Tim Major
Mark Toner
The Adaptation Point by Kate Macdonald
Mark Toner
Community Service by Brian M Milton
An experiment with ink pencils to find a greener way to ink and colour that doesn’t fill the landscape with little plastic tubes
Mark Toner
Mobay Woods by K M McKenzie
Mark Toner
Back Cover Issue 2
Announcing the arrival of the Beachcomber in issue 3
Mark Toner
Reliquaries by Steve Simpson
Steve Pickering
We Have Magnetic Trees by Ian Hunter
Mark Toner
Isn’t Your Daughter Such A Doll by Tobi Ogundiran
A CGI illustration
Mark Toner
We Are Still Here by Anya Ow (story unpublished as yet)
A CGI illustration
Mark Toner
Backdrop for The Republic of David adapted by Jonathan Whiteside from the story by Anton Rose
Steve Pickering
See You Later by M Luke McDonell
Mark Toner
Symbiosis by Colleen Anderson
Steve Pickering
Trophy
a bionic sculpture
Mark Toner
Six by Hannah Lackoff
Mark Toner
Worm by Russell Jones
Tsu, Steve Pickering and Mark Toner
Frankenstein – three artist comic celebrating the bicentenary
Mark Toner
Sleeping Fire by Elva Hills
Mark Toner
A Letter South by Beth Nuttall
Steve Pickering
Fear The Mowok from Steve’s epic graphic novel which is still in production
Steve Pickering
Hostiles Encountered
A one frame graphic novel
Steve’s Shoreline of Infinity Covers
Steve Pickering
We gave Steve a run of four covers and, of course, he drew five. This one eventually graced The Chosen From The First Age.
Steve Pickering
Cover for Issue 9
Reader At The Thought Discharger
Steve Pickering
Cover for Issue 7
Reader Embattled
Steve Pickering
Cover for Issue 6
The Library Of Dreams
Steve Pickering
Cover for Issue 8
The Rescue of Sister
Steve’s Trilogy For A Writing Competition
Steve Pickering
The first of three images created as a competition for writers
Steve Pickering
The second of three images to inspire writers
Steve Pickering
The third of three images created for a story competition
