Explore fantasy art: Francesca Baerald

Ever since I was young I have always loved maps. Poring over them, picking out the details, and of course drawing my own. So I was amazed when I saw Francesca Baerald’s work.

Middle Earth map by Francesca Baerald

Judging from her ArtStation page, she is in demand, and has illustrated maps for board games, novels, and computer games.

Sol System map (Siege of Terra) by Francesca Baerald

I first noticed her work in the Black Library Siege of Terra series, and was intrigued to know more. Her maps for that series had me reliving my childhood, pressing the maps almost to my nose to pick out every detail. Ultimately is was easier on my ageing eyes to find her ArtStation page to look at larger versions!

The North (A Song of Ice and Fire) by Francesca Baerald

Midgard map by Francesca Baerald

Gloomhaven (Jaws of the Lion) map by Francesca Baerald

Maps of cities can be quite boring, but add enough detail and there’s plenty to look at, as exemplified by the map above. What is that interior city wall protecting. Why is there only a single bridge across the river, and who gets to cross it. Is that a barracks at the southern end, or something else? I really could spend all day looking at these maps.