Hung, Drawn and Executed: The Horror Art of Graham Humphreys

by Graham Humphreys (Illustrator), Dacre Stoker (Foreword), Victoria Price (Contributor)

Graham Humphreys’ career as a poster artist looms large over horror cinema. From designing the iconic Evil Dead poster to Nightmare on Elm Street and House of a Thousand Corpses, his work is familiar to everyone. It’s easy to see why his work grabs the attention of horror fans and film-makers alike as he continually and systematically sets the bar ever higher in his quest for sheer terror and pure entertainment. With more than 40 years experience he is one of the few contemporary illustrators using the traditional medium of gouache to paint his images.

Includes previously unseen work, paintings, drawings and colour studies, as well as additional text by Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price, and Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker.

Genres: Horror, Art

176 pages, Hardcover

Published November 21, 2020

About the author

Graham Humphreys is an illustrator and visual artist best known for producing film posters. During the 1980s, Humphreys worked with Palace Pictures, producing publicity material for such films as Dream Demon, Basket Case, The Evil Dead, and Nightmare on Elm Street. Whilst most artists now work digitally, Graham remains dedicated to the medium that has supported him throughout his career: paint on paper. Current projects include vinyl LP sleeves, posters, private commissions and work for horror film festivals.

Reviews

[Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Someone's in my fruit cellar! Someone with a fresh soooul!" 👹

This book is so beautifully put together, Graham Humphreys artwork is absolutely brilliant; I wish there was like ten of these books so I could look at more of his illustrations.

Essential for horror fans who appreciate the advertising art as much as the movies themselves.

A+

[Mark Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

..... Nostalgia Alert.......

First of all, check out the cover! Movies and characters and drawings we all know and love. It's gets better inside..

We have an intro by Bram Stoker's great gran nephew for some reason? And then we get to the good stuff...

Best of all, a section on Humphreys creative process broken down stage by stage with drawings and detailed notes - super cool

But the book stands out for me because of the nostalgia that I feel when looking over these amazing images. Those classic Lime Greens, Smokey Purples and Deep Reds that dominated those old horror movie posters - colours which I feel, fell out of fashion after the 90s - I guess people thought they were a bit cheesy.... But there is nothing cheesy here, the images are amazing, even the ones we instantly recognise have little details that you can pick out upon closer inspection, ones you never knew were there before...

Hours and hours of fun to be had... Highly recommend

[Dani Nefasto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espectacular recorrido por la obra de Graham Humphreys como ilustrador de pósters, carátulas de películas y portadas de discos relacionados en su mayoría con el género del terror o fantástico. P.D.: Incluye Master class de la realización de una de sus obras paso a paso.
Excelente!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great haul of haunting images to had here! And while I had seen some of his work before such as the cover of The Stuff videotape cover I never could point out a name to the art. I spotted Humphrey's officially named work first in VHS Video Cover Art with pieces like The Evil Dead, Hide and Shriek, The Stuff, and The Wailing. This art book includes some of his old and his new work that he has done within the past decades. His work really utilizes such vibrant colors, with character closeups, and pivotal action scenes from these movies. Now to track down that mentioned Vincent Price tribute book!

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through a draw & I absolutely love it.
I couldn't have recieved a better book. There's a very detailed tutorial at the beginning of the book that's easy enough for any level of artist to complete.
I've already learned lot's of new info that will improve my artwork, both now and in the future. This is the coolest book for any fan old horror movie posters.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I skimmed most of it tbh... he has an interesting process laid out.
Made me want to watch some random stuff like Puppet Master!

[Josie Deryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the step by step insight into how the art is created at the start. Definitely allowed me to appreciate the images more

[Katia Lyng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting artwork, and a very sweet introduction by Vincent price's daughter.

[Gregory Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew a little of Graham Humphreys artwork, mainly due to the ‘In Search of Darkness’ documentary.
I found this book he made recently and I loved it. I could look at it again and again.
Two of my favourite movie genres (horror film and B-movies).

It also included a rear peak into how he makes his art which made me appreciate all the works in this book more and try to look in detail in how he did them.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves films, artwork, movie posters.