A note about the titles - although many of Chris's images are the result of book-cover commissions, he generally prefers to give them his own titles; but there are not to be taken too seriously as their main purpose is for identification. This does not apply to Chris's glamour artwork where title are often carefully chosen and must be kept in mind when looking at the image.
Amazon Gallery
Amazons as depicted in Greek Art and Mythology, are derived from a nation of warrior women, who were reputed to have lived in Scythia near the Black Sea. In the Illiad, the Amazons are one of several allies who try to prevent the fall of Troy. According to the legend, after slaying the queen of the Amazons Pentesilea during the Troyan war....
read more about Amazons
"This is actually one of the few genuine Amazons I have painted, since she comes from a time when Amazons really existed, around 1200 BC or earlier"
"When the Amazons went to fight alongside the Trojans in the Trojan War, their sudden impact on the battlefield drove the Greeks back, to the extent that they called on their great champion, Achilles, to come to their aid. As there was great honour in defeating another champion, the proud Achilles eagerly went out to confront Penthesilea, the champion and Queen of the Amazons"
"For me this painting embodies British Celtic history, represented not just by the maiden but also by the Neolithic standing stones and bleak skies. Commissioned by my friend Bob Hook for a wraparound cover for a replica swords catalogue." See also "The Fallen Hero", "Moondance" and "Brünhilde"
Sunrise 1987Sunrise 1987
"This Amazon figure is wearing an amalgam of Samourai and Roman armour. Just imagine her black headdress blowing gently in the breeze, revealing the bright metal glinting beneath." Cover illustration for Chris's fourth book "Amazona" published in 2004
Illustration for a calendar portraying the Queen of the Celtic Iceni tribe. Since its publication in the 1983 Amazon calendar, Chris has revised the costume slightly as shown here including the blue lines.
Buy BOADICEA print and poster
During an exhibition in Germany, the japanese artist Hajime Soroyama suggested to Chris that they exchange a painting and it was this one he chose
Buy YOUNG DRAGON TRAINER print and poster
"One of my first loves and influences was the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, and later I became interested in studying medieval Japan. Katana was the first painting I did on linen with oil paint."
Buy KATANA print
"Brünhilde is one of Wotan's daughters, the Valkyries, who gather up fallen heroes from the battlefield and take them to Valhalla. Painted in 1998, this painting was particularly trying to use experience gained from "Eve" and the "Dark Angel" I felt more confident filling up such a large canvas."
Buy BRUNHILDE print
"My first idea was to paint another Native American figure, but as I concenrtrated on the painting, the woman developed her own life and direction. This happens quite often, leading me to ask who is really in control here."
First published in Chris's first book "Beauty and the Beast", this painting was also used on Uriah Heep's "Fallen Angel" album released in 1978.
Commission for the animated fantasy film "Heavy Metal". Chris painted the movie poster illustration, and also designed the look of the female heroine, Taarna. The image can still be seen on the cover of the current DVD and video releases.
"The cheetah painting (one of my cat series) cried out for an Egyptian theme. They made excellent hunting companions for the men and were favoured pets of the women in the palaces"Buy PRINCESS'S FAVOURITE print
"Kira was a tall, fair-haired beauty with the slender body of a catwalk model. In her veins flowed the hot blood of her Viking ancestors."
Originally published by Scandecor. Later, Chris modified the image because publishers were unhappy with her breasts being shownBuy STANDARD BEARER collectable poster
"This painting features my friend Julia a tall red haired Aryan beauty wearing a fabulous armour that my pal Terry English made especially for her."
Cover illustration for Chris's first book "Beauty and the Beast" published in 1978.
"This is supposed to be the same character as the one depicted on the cover of my first book, Beauty and the Beast in 1978. You see her now marked by years of hardship, war and adventure, but still very beautiful to behold. I like this one a lot"
"This is one of my old favourite which I did for the Amazons Portfolio in 1979, the background was added much later in 1995"
A large oil painting done especially for the FPG's second fantasy art trading card set in 1993."
"My tribute to central Amerian civilisations, more specifically to the "keepers of time": the Maya"
Part of Chris's ongoing plan to paint the entire cat family, catwalk was the chance to paint a beautiful leopard in 1990.
"Another favourite of mine and part of my cat series featuring two black leopards"
"Painted for a fantasy novel book cover in 1992.
"Commission for a double-spread book cover. At the time I paInted this picture, the fashion had moved away from heroic action packed imagery to something a little subtler"
Fantasy Gallery
Following a rise in the popularity of fantasy and science fiction art in the late seventies, both in America and in Great Britain, Chris found himself flourishing as a fantasy artist. Over the years, Chris has not only illustrated dozens of bookcovers; but his art has also appeared on covers for games, video and rock albums, as well as on the front cover of many magazines...
read more about Cover Illustrations
"The most ambitious picture I have ever done for a book cover. I painted the background like this and not in full colour as I intended it to be a tapestry showing the colaps of his civilisation and not a real background. In the new era of Man that is dawning neither he nor the dragons have a place except as figures of myth and legend." Bookcover illustration for "Elric at the End of Time", by Michael Moorcock.Buy ELVEN WARRIOR print and poster
Commissioned by the musician Gary Hughes for the wraparound and booklet artwork for his musical version of the Arthurian legend, which came in two parts and two separate boxes, this is the first painting.Extract from an Gary Hughs Interveiw by Melodic Rock: I must also add that the artwork and overall packaging is wonderful. Tell us about how that came to be... I have known [artist] Chris Achilleos for about five years now, since Ten approached him for a potential cover for Spellbound. We have, over the years, become great friends and he is a great historian himself who loves this subject matter. I was amazed when he offered to do the artworks. He had a bad experience after his Lovehunter cover and for years he has had a policy of not working with bands anymore. He did it as a friend. The man after all is an illustrative God. He has surpassed even my greatest expectations with these two covers. He is a true gentleman and surely one of the world's greatest exponents of fantasy artwork. All Chris's originals are large scale. It is amazing to know that although we are looking at small CD sleeves, the original artworks are close to eight feet wide and five feet tall! The detail and colour are truly something to behold.
"The final battle shows the death of Arthur and his son, a son begotten by Arthur's incestuous union with his sister Morgana. As Morgana was the principal character behind Arthur's fall, I chose her image to loom over the battle's carnage, surrounded by the mystic runes to suggest her dark powers." Commissioned by the musician Gary Hughes for the wraparound and booklet artwork for his musical version of the Arthurian legend, which came in two parts and two separate boxes, this is the second part.
From Tolkien's "The Lord of the Ring", this painting was produced for a computer game called "Riders of Rohan".
"Here we see a Roman and a Carthaginian racing their chariots, painted for a computer game called "Carthage".
"Mixing features of the West and the Orient, "Genesis" is another symbolist pictures inspired by my interest in the esoteric"
"I wanted Pegasus high in the sky among the clouds, but always felt that a flying horse doesn't look plausible; so I contrived this fantastical mountain-top with geyser-like fountain and petrified, coral-like flowers whidh formed vertical lines complementing the horizon and clouds beyond." Bookcover illustration for "To Ride Pegasus", by Anne MacCaffrey.
The Host of Mordor from Lord of the Ring. Illustration for the game "Middle Earth" by Games Workshop.Buy HOST OF CHAOS print and poster
"This painting was inspired by the empathy we can sometimes feel for the monster, when it is attacked and brought down by over-whelming odds"
Illustration for a book cover. It is shown on p. 35 of Chris's Art book "Sirens"
Illustration for a book cover. It is shown on p. 34 of Chris's Art book "Sirens"
"Originally produced for a Conan paperback cover, I have since reworked this piece. This is a natural process for me since I don't consider any of my paintings to ever be fully finished"
Illustration for the book cover of "Alumric" by Robert E. Howard.
Illustration for the book cover of "Worms Of The Earth" by Robert E. Howard. This book is one of a serie of 3 commissioned by Orbit Publications where Chris has also designed the banners enclosing the authors name. He painted a similar set for a Michael Moorcock book serie
Illustration for the cover of the role-playing board game box cover "Blood Royal", commissionned by Games Workshop. "I owe the inspiration for this picture to the epic film of El Cid. In the final duel, the hero pins is adversary to the ground with his massive two handed sword".
"This image was produced for the film "The Saint". It was done in a great hurry, but the Knights Templar was a subject I had researched heavily, so I thoroughly enjoyed myself".
Bookcover illustration for "The Grail War" by R. Monaco. Also used for a game box cover "Warrior Knights" by Games Workshop.
"In this picture I show an army of the dead from another dimension consisting of animated corpses, some of which have progressed in demons of rank." Bookcover illustration for "The war and the world's pain" by Michael Moorcock.
"This painting is dedicated to all free spirits who feel they were born in the wrong age and throw caution to the wind. It was originally painted for a biker's magazine called "Heavy Duty". The motorcycle the girl is riding is a modified Harley Davidson."Buy BIKERS VALKYRIE print and poster
"It was nice to get away form the stereotyped barbarian wearing nothing but a loincloth even when struggling through the snow or in the melée of battle, and get into designing a more realistic costume. " Illustration for the book cover of "The Ginger Star" by Leigh Brakett. The first of a serie.
"What pleased me about this picture was the lighting on the main figure. This is the final problem after composition and anatomy in a picture - imagining the light source and how it falls on the subjects. " Illustration for the book cover of "The Hounds of Skaith" by Leigh Brakett. The second of a serie.
Illustration for the book cover of "The Reavers of Skaith" by Leigh Brackett. The last in a serie of three books featuring the adventures of the hero Eric John Stark.
"Another battle scene painted in 1990, where I decided to use a looser style, similar to that one shown in "Berserker."Buy BATTLE AT THE RED ARCH print and poster
This battle scene was originally produced for the computer game "Battlemaster" in 1989.
"This was a commission for a computer game box cover for Bloodwych"
Dragon Gallery
The fist time Chris was asked to illustrate a Dragon was back in 1979. One of his most influential School of Art in his early years was the Pre-Raphaelites and it was mainly their romantic works which showed realistic renditions of magical beast such as Dragons...
read more about Dragons
"This creature is a compromise between my own idea of a dragon and the one in the book, this led me to give it six limbs instead of the four which I have always felt would make a more feasible dragon". Bookcover illustration for "Dragonquest", by Anne MacCaffrey.Buy THE SENTINEL print and poster
"Mixing features of the West and the Orient, "Genesis" is another symbolist pictures inspired by my interest in the esoteric".
Illustration for the game "Talisman" by Games Workshop.Buy THE RED DRAGON CHALLENGE print and poster
Illustration for magazine cover. The Nazgul or Ringwraiths were once-mortal men enslaved by Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor in Tolkien's Lord of the Ring
A huge Dragon sits atop a drawbridge, ready to fight the assembled Mages and warriors.Buy DRAGONSPELL print and poster
"Defiant was a fantasy board game commission. When the original was returned, I cut away six inches from the right-hand side and painted a new figure of a girl over the two original characters. I like it much better now."
"The most ambitious picture I have ever done for a book cover. I painted the background like this and not in full colour as I intended it to be a tapestry showing the collaps of his civilisation and not a real background. In the new era of Man that is dawing neither he nor the dragons have a place except as figures of myth and legend." Bookcover illustration for "Elric at the End of Time", by Michael Moorcock.Buy ELVEN WARRIOR print and poster
Originally painted for the cover of "Brothers of the Dragons", this image has been reproduced in many other forms. The girls costume is made from dragon scales"Buy DRAGONQUEEN print and poster
Various Gallery
Shown here is a young woman performing a fertility ritual, kneeling before the sacred presence of a monolith under the full glare of the moon goddess. See also "Spirit of the Age", "The Fallen Hero" and "Brünhilde".
Athina 1989Athina 1989
Unique painting in the style of the Byzantine icons and showing the Archangel Michael who battles with the "Dark One" for the souls of men.
"This is my personal interpretation of a biblical scene that continues to fascinate me. It depicts the very moment when Eve is transformed from an ethereal being into one of matter."
cover illustratio nfor a romance novel "The rose and the Bunyan tree"
Illustration especially painted for the cover of Chris's third book "Medusa", published in 1988. Used again on the second publication in 2002 by Iconia, Chris made some alterations on her face as shown here
This is a digitally modified version by Chris
Cover Illustration for Chris's second book "Sirens"
"Colours" is one my symbolist paintings.
First sketched in the 70s, this painting was done in 1993, when Chris started to dedicated more time to paint for his own personal satisfaction, contributing to his evolution from illustrator to artist.
This blood crazed vampire from the far future was a commission for the illustration cover of the famous UK comic 2000AD.Buy DURUM RED original painting
"Over the years, I have pencilled out many ideas portraying beautiful but deadly vampire women; my first attempt was "Birth of a Vampire".Buy BLACK TEARS print and poster
Birth of a Vampire 1981Birth of a Vampire 1981
"Another fallen angel or cupid, judging by the appearance of her corrupted wings. Her arrows are tipped, not with love, but with poison...and guaranteed to break your heart."
"This time she or he got away, her arrow having missed its mark and fallen on barren ground. Next time she won't miss !"Buy ANGEL OF PASSION print and poster
Tiger Crossing 1993Tiger Crossing 1993
Ariel's Dream 2004/2011Ariel's Dream 2004/2011
Fishgirl 1976Fishgirl 1976
Siren's Remorse 1985Siren's Remorse 1985
"Mermaids and sirens are another subject I will never be tired of painting".Buy EXTINCTION print and poster
- "When I met Ariel in a nightclub, she was wearing a fishtail and trying to dance with it ! "
Yasmin 1993Yasmin 1993
Kaisu 1994Kaisu 1994
"I just felt like painting a beautiful face, it's that simple."
The Tease 1995The Tease 1995
The Two Faces of Bangkok 1980The Two Faces of Bangkok 1980
Krokus 1988Krokus 1988
Dr Who Gallery
Chris's first commission to illustrate three Dr Who book covers came in 1973 and in the next few years he produced many covers for Target ...
read more about Dr Who Art
DR WHO and the Zygon 2009 - Private commission.
Private commission. From the BBC TV show "Dr Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth" first broadcast in November 1964. This was one of the first shows to feature the dreaded Daleks wandering across London and crossing Westminster Bridge with the famous view of the Houses of Parliament. It was later to become a feature movie starring Peter Cushing as the Doctor.
Private Dr Who commission showing for the first time in Chris's work the new Doctor David Tennant, and latest Dalek and Cybermen versions as shown on the BBC TV series.
Private Dr Who commission. From the BBC TV show of "Dr Who and the Tomb of the Cybermen" first broadcast in September 1967. This is regarded by many to be one of the best stories ever, featuring the Cybermen and the second Doctor Patrick Troughton.Buy TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN 2006 print
This picture was commissioned by SFX Magazine for the launch of the new Dr Who TV series back in March 2005. The painting was reproduced as a centrefold and a special gift folded poster. This was the first time since the Target Book covers, 30 years ago, that Chris was asked to paint a Dr Who picture.Buy Dr WHO Christopher Eccleston print
Dr Who Appreciation society 20th Anniversary.Buy Dr WHO 20th ANNIVERSARY print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Daleks" by David Whitaker.
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Zarbi" by Bill Strutton.
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Crusaders" by David Whitaker.Buy Dr WHO The CRUSADERS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Auton Invasion" by Terrance DicksBuy Dr WHO The AUTON INVASION print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Cave Monsters" by Malcolm Hulke.Buy Dr WHO The CAVE MONSTERS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Doomsday Weapon" by Malcolm Hulke.Buy Dr WHO The DOOMSADAY WEAPON print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Daemons" by Barry Letts.
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Sea-Devils" by Malcolm Hulke.Buy Dr WHO The SEA DEVILS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Abominable Snowmen" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Curse Of Peladon" by Brian Hayles.Buy Dr WHO The CURSE OF PELADON print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The LOCHNESS MONSTER print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who - The Three Doctors by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The THREE DOCTORS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Dinosaur Invasion" by Malcolm Hulke.Buy Dr WHO The DINOSAUR INVASION print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Ice Warriors" by Brian Hayles.Buy Dr WHO The ICE WARRIORS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who - The Revenge Of The Cybermen" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The REVENGE OF THE CYBERMEN print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Genesis Of The Daleks" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The GENESIS OF THE DALEKS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Web Of Fear" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The WEB OF FEAR print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Space War" by Malcolm Hulke.Buy Dr WHO The SPACE WAR print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Planet Of The Daleks" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The PLANET OF THE DALEKS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Pyramids Of Mars" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The PYRAMIDS OF MARS print
THE TYPHOO SPECIAL FRONT COVER 1976 - The Amazing World Of Doctor Who.
THE TYPHOO SPECIAL BACK COVER 1976 - The Amazing World Of Doctor Who.Buy Dr WHO TYHPOO SPECIAL BACK print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Carnival Of Monsters" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The CARVNIVAL OF MONTSERS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Daleks" by David Whitaker.Buy Dr WHO The SEEDS OF DOOM print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Dalek Invasion Of Earth" by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The DALEK INVASION OF EARTH print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And And The Claws Of Axos by Terrance Dicks.Buy Dr WHO The CLAW OF AXOS print
Bookcover illustration for "Doctor Who And The Ark In Space by Ian Marter.Buy Dr WHO The ARK IN SPACE print
Dr Who Monster Book 1.Buy Dr WHO The MONSTER BOOK I print
Dr Who Monster Book 2.Buy Dr WHO The MONSTER BOOK II print
Sci-fi Gallery
"Here stands and alien creature whose world is dying around him, the last of his line of beautiful, flying humanoid creatures." Bookcover illustration.
"In a real situation the giant is more likely to be at the front protecting the others but then you would not see them, so a little artistic licence has been used." Bookcover illustration.
The Jupiter Menace 1982.The Jupiter Menace 1982.
TheLonely Heart 1983TheLonely Heart 1983
The Android 1988The Android 1988
"This picture was commissioned for a role-playing board game in 1990. A strictly science fiction piece; it is a rarity for me to paint such subjects, but it makes a nice change."
The Black Moon 1977The Black Moon 1977
Book cover illustration for "The Cabal" by Saul Dunn.
Sea Monster 1976Sea Monster 1976
Amok 1976Amok 1976
Terror Birds from the Sky 1978Terror Birds from the Sky 1978
Robot and Girl 1976Robot and Girl 1976
Do you Run or Bluff 1984Do you Run or Bluff 1984
The Worls set Free 1975The Worls set Free 1975
Monsters and Medics 1976Monsters and Medics 1976
Erotica Gallery
In the early nineties, the sudden resurgence in popularity of London’s fetish clubs and the number of magazines which sprang up to promote the scene lead for glamour subject to appear again in Chris’s work. Chris was creating new erotic art, with work appearing in a number of publications, including the German fetish magazine Marquis....
read more about Glamour art
"A girl in a black cat suit is nothing new - Alberto Vargas was working on similar images back in the 1940s - so I tried to add something different, contrasting the dark against the innocent.
"A very popular image, but I cannot take full credit for its conception. The idea came from a friend of mine, Kim Thompson who is actually a very good wildlife artist in her own right."Buy BUNNY GIRL print and poster
Bird of ParadiseBird of Paradise
"Like "Angel of Passion" this was painted for a proposed exotic calendar in 1992. The costumes were designed to be worn, either at a fashion show or in a cabaret."Buy CHAIN OF FOOLS print and poster
rose Dew 1982.rose Dew 1982.
"Here was another opportunity to show my love for the primitive and the wild, combined with the contemporary and the modern." Oils on canvas.
"This painting attempts to show two varying sides of a woman.Buy PAWS AND CLAWS print and poster
Joker Girls 1981.Joker Girls 1981.
"Inspired by perosnal experience... I know how the parrot feels, having waited for hours whilst friends get ready for a night out."Buy PRETTY POLLZY print and poster
Whilst working at Arts of Gold-the illustrators, Chris was asked to produce this painting which was his first glamour illustration.
"A tongue-in-cheek picture exploring the old taboo S&M, originally done for "Marquis" magazine."
Another painting for the fashion fetish magazine "Marquis"Buy CRIME AND PUNISHMENT print and poster
"I have tried to capture the incredible excitement that greets you upon entering an alternative nightclub."Buy ANIMAL WENT IN TWO BAY TWO print and poster
Breaking Free 1982.Breaking Free 1982.
The Aliens Contract 1982.Buy ALIEN'S CONTRACT collectable print
The Aliens Contract 1982.Buy ALIEN'S CONTRACT collectable print
Originally painted for a bookcover illustration, and modified in 1985.
The original painting was later modified to cover the ladie's breast, see next image.
modified painting with corset covering the ladie's breast.
The Happy Hooker 1978.The Happy Hooker 1978.
Seduction 1977.Seduction 1977.
Phone Sex 1983.Phone Sex 1983.
Stranger on the Shore 1982.Stranger on the Shore 1982.
Butterfly Girl.Butterfly Girl.
Metamorphosis 1993.Metamorphosis 1993.
Film Strip 1981.Film Strip 1981.
The rocket Rider 1978.The rocket Rider 1978.
The Girl in a Bottle 1979.The Girl in a Bottle 1979.
Watch the Birdy 1982.Watch the Birdy 1982.
New Red Hood 1977/94.New Red Hood 1977/94.
