Honored by Tolkien Society Award for Best Artwork!

I am incredibly grateful to The Tolkien Society and all of its voting members for the outstanding honor of this award for Best Artwork in 2026 for my painting of "The Long Winter, 1158: Gandalf Helps the Hobbits." There are so many gifted Tolkien-inspired artists and illustrators giving their hearts to the depiction of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium and I feel it deeply to have received such distinguished notice for my work.

My congratulations to all the short-listed finalists and to all the winners in other categories this year, including Dr. Michael Drout, Tom Hillman, Tea with Tolkien, and Jessica Yates. Applause for one and all!

I was so charmed in 2025 that this painting was featured on The Tolkien Society's annual holiday greeting card, and I think it's very moving that this particular scene from hobbit history is receiving special notice from readers, perhaps because it affirms our belief that help unlooked-for could come at any moment. It celebrates the mercy that is at the heart of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium and I honor him for writing such an affecting account of Gandalf coming to the rescue in the midst of the hobbits' great need. You can see a little video short I created for this painting when it debuted to enjoy closeups and wintry atmosphere:

Last night, when I heard the news that my artwork had received such an outstanding recognition, I got one of my small pencil portraits of the Professor down from its shelf where it always sits in its golden frame overlooking all my work, and I did a little dance with it across my house. Celebrating him and his achievements that speak to readers around the world!

This painting will be included amongst the 70+ works of art that illustrate my forthcoming second book, A Shire Walking-Party, which will be brought out later this year by Uppsala Books. I hope you'll all join me in an immersive walking-party through hobbit history, homelands, homes, and cultures when this volume comes to print.

I'm so happy to have such good news to share with you today. This seems like the right time for a few fireworks from Gandalf, and I hope you'll join in the fun with this video short, and know that I am so, so grateful to The Tolkien Society and everyone here who continues to offer such support and encouragement on my artistic adventure!