EXTRACTS: Illustrators Issue 4 © 2013 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

68 THIS AND FACING PAGE: A selection covers, some of which attained an almost iconic status amongst fans of the Pan Book of Horror Stories . Despite the move to photographic covers with the fifth volume in the series, the power and sense of unease that illustrators such as Francis Phillipps and Josh Kirby were able to inject into their artwork, ensured that illustration continued to play a vital role in propelling these volumes into the hands of readers, keen to undergo the atavistic shudder these stories invariably induced. the time (video nasties anyone?) came from people and parents who caught a startling glimpse at the covers, and failed to ever view the contents. The problem with the Pan Horrors , as far as illustrators’ readers are concerned, is that a fair number of the covers were of the photographic variety. This move was the brain-child of David Larkin, art director at Pan, whose decision to move away from the traditional painted cover and into still life photography was a breakthrough for Pan, but for others it destroyed the brand. The in-house photography department would borrow or buy most of the props from Bonham’s—fine art auctioneers and valuers—and if the shots weren’t taken in the studio, would take place in Richmond Park, where Pan employees enjoyed dressing up and running riot. Another move away from the traditional Pan style was the iconic yellow box—and getting rid of the many talented lettering artists (the technique faded out around 1969) in favour of hot metal type, photo-setting, and Letraset. But for a while, and sometimes decades apart, the Pan Horrors were known for their painted covers; be it a beastie peeking out from under its tomb, spectres; some unfortunate’s decapitation, or other gruesome and bold imaginings. And this is where you, the illustrators’ reader may come in. I’ll list who painted which cover as far as I’m able, but there are gaps in