Ian Stopforth Talks About Colouring A Lawless Comic Cover

Adding Colour

Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul Neal recently learned that the talented UK artist Ian Stopforth has helped create a rather unique cover ahead of this year’s popular UK Lawless convention. He felt compelled to ask the artist a few questions and the artist kindly agreed to help…

TRIPWIRE: Ian, I understand you have helped create a special cover image for the Lawless 2026 comic that attendees will be able to enjoy, but before we get to that am I right in saying this is not your first comic cover? What was your first?

IAN STOPFORTH: My first comic cover was around the time of Covid, and it was with Shift. This was very exciting for me personally as I could go into WHSmith and literally buy it off the shelf. The irony was I bought the only existing copy in the store at that time which now I think is quite funny because maybe only I saw it.

However, concurrently I was also working on my first cover for The 77.

This image for me was quite a lucky occurrence as I stumbled upon the idea of a child soldier holding a gun towards the viewer.

IS: It involved a hand image going into the plane of the picture which for me conjured up questions rather than a specific narrative. So, for instance is the child uncomfortable with the gun and will he fire at the figure? Does the figure hold out his hands for help or to beg for mercy and the whole idea of a child in this awful situation was something I latched onto. I think that was possibly my most successful cover due to the ambiguity and the sense of the disorder and the disturbing notion with the image.

TW: As an artist and a comic fan, what do you think goes into making an eye-catching comic book cover?

IS: That’s a very good question and I don’t think there are clear answers for that. I think there are some rules in so far as composition and striking imagery are concerned. Covers to me are often the more thought-provoking companion to the story inside the comic.

I’ve had many conversations around covers, luckily there’s usually an editorial team that give me some notion or some idea to work with. Often for me I’m just looking at how things work in the formal sense of how the picture plane is put together. The exception to that rule will be my first cover with the child soldier from our story with Paul Goodenough which I mentioned.

The 77 are particularly good at providing direction when making covers. I’ve also had great input and advice from Richard Starkings. Another highlight was my Elephantmen back cover, which I was thrilled to produce.

IS: Richard once told me he spoke with somebody who had direct experience with Stan Lee. Apparently Stan Lee’s general rule to covers was to include a full figure of the hero in action and to place the hero in some perilous situation. The idea was not to show a certain death but allude to it, obviously to encourage people to buy the comic.

One of the biggest new breakthroughs I’ve had has been the simple understanding of seeing or setting things in the past. I’ve tried to provide them with almost a sense of portraiture to the cover, however full figures, drama and a sense of action and theatricality are becoming increasingly important things that might work in my work.

TW: Can you provide any examples of covers you think are especially effective? It doesn’t have to be 2000AD related. Judge Dredd is not holding a Lawgiver to your head until the weekend.

IS: I think with regards to effective covers the images that first come to mind for me personally are the painted covers of the late 80s and early 90s, specifically Stray Toasters and Black Orchid as they seemed somehow more mature and evocative which contradicts my current drive for pure visual impact.

IS: What I loved about these covers tends to contradict myself slightly. It is the ambiguity, the ambience and textural aspects to picture making. For me this led to an interest in paint and fine art.

However, not through sheer Lawless politics, I have to say that covers by Bolland, Gibson and McMahon really captured my imagination as a child.

TW: In regard to the 2026 Lawless comic cover, can you describe what was involved in creating the piece and who else was involved? And for aspiring artists with a curious mind, how many hour did it take you?

IS: The Lawless cover was very exciting for me. I’m a big fan of Mike Perkins. He provided such an amazing image with inks. Mike didn’t have time to colour this image and I was very flattered to discover he’d reached out to The ‘77 to ask if I could provide colours for him.

The objective for me was to try to enhance Mike’s work and not cause a stylistic clash. My initial efforts were quite tight and conventional and not satisfactory from my perspective, so I adopted to let go a little, to heighten the colour here and there and apply paint directly over the image. I used watercolour to ensure that my work was always visible and the most important facet of this image.

The image was painted in short bursts of real concentration and then reflecting on isolated passages. So, for instance the hair, then the head, then the background. It wasn’t painted in one action. It was painted in a series of sit-down sessions. It probably clocked up to around seven or eight hours, but some of this was sitting and reflecting on the image before progressing further.

TW: If you had to pick an artist, and I ask you pick one please, who would you say is your all-time favourite cover artist?

IS: Bill Sienkiewicz!

TW: Will the original art for the Lawless 2026 cover be available to buy during the weekend?

IS: The original artwork I would say is in the hands of Mike Perkins. To ensure I could get the best effect, I worked over printouts of his work. The image is only actually very small, under A4 in size. I will take it with me to Lawless. If it can be used in anyway in auction funds I’ll be delighted, however I’d imagine my coloured image looks quite unremarkable in the flesh ha-ha.

TW: Will you be available during the convention for sketches and signatures?

IS: I’ve been extremely lucky in the buildup to Lawless because I’ve had about half a dozen commission requests come to me, so this week has been more than manic. I may be doing some commissions or finishing off commissions on the day itself or over the weekend. If not, time and space permitting, I will be painting and drawing for fun in the environment. I will be available for sketches but I don’t tend to get many requests on the day of these events.

TW: Do you have a drink of choice from the hotel bar that might persuade you to produce an extra special sketch for any passing fans of your art?

IS: Ha! I’m quite fickle with my preference of drink. It depends on the mood I’m in. I do enjoy a pint, I do enjoy shorts and other drinks, but I think beer is my convention drink of choice 😉

visit Lawless’ website now

Home